How To Grow Almost Anything

What is HTGAA?

How To Grow Almost Anything (HTGAA) is a fast-paced, project-driven course in synthetic biology, taught by an international cast of lecturers and teaching assistants from Harvard, MIT, and beyond.

Victoria Makerspace is an official international node, connecting you to a global cohort of learners while you experiment locally in our community lab.

Over the term, you’ll explore genetic engineering, biological circuits, and bio-fabrication while working through weekly assignments and labs.

• Global lectures streamed from the main HTGAA course
• Weekly virtual meetings to review homework & get help from TAs
• Bio bootcamp in late January to review core biology concepts

Hands-On Labs at Victoria Makerspace

The course content is free; there will be a nominal fee to cover consumables and lab use for the in-person sessions.

Planned labs for this year include:

• Opentrons lab automation — glowing bacteria artwork on black agar
• CRISPR lab — precise genome editing in the wet lab
• iGEM-style synthetic circuits — design and test genetic logic
• Gibson assembly — build larger DNA constructs seamlessly
• PCR & gel electrophoresis — amplify and visualize DNA
• DNA origami — fold DNA into nanoscale shapes
• Cell-free systems — run genetic programs without living cells

Labs meet in person at Victoria Makerspace, with weekly virtual check-ins to connect with TAs and the global HTGAA community.