Seminar-based course designed to provide advanced students with broad coverage of key areas of legal, ethical, scientific and political aspects of biosecurity, emphasizing current problems and research in the areas of biodefense, emerging infectious diseases, synthetic biology and other topics. In combination with related reading and writing assignments, the weekly special topics-based seminars will integrate knowledge of natural and man-made biological threats with the skills to develop and analyze public policies and strategies for enhancing global biosecurity. Prerequisite: MCB 150 or equivalent or consent of instructor.