The course introduces rational design and evolutionary methods for engineering functional protein and nucleic acid systems. Rational design topics include molecular modeling, artificial intelligence and machine learning, positive and negative design paradigms, simulation and optimization of equilibrium and kinetic properties, and the design of catalysts, sensors, motors, and circuits. Evolutionary design topics include evolutionary mechanisms and tradeoffs, fitness landscapes, and the directed evolution of proteins. Some assignments require programming, with Python as the language of instruction.