Lecture, four hours; discussion, one hour; outside study, seven hours. Course C239A is not requisite to C239B. Overview of chemical and physical foundations of biomolecular materials science that concern materials aspects of molecular biology, cell biology, and bioengineering. Understanding of different basic types of biomolecules, with emphasis on nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids. Study of how biological and biomimetic systems organize into their functional forms via self-assembly and how these structures impart biological function. Illustration of these ideas using examples from bioengineering and biomedical engineering. Case study on current topics, including drug delivery, gene therapy, cancer therapeutics, emerging pathogens, and relation of self-assembly to disease states. May be taken independently for credit. Concurrently scheduled with course C139B. Letter grading.