synthetic biology risks and opportunities of an emerging field constructing life

Synthetic BiologySynthetic Biology

Risks and opportunities of an emerging field

Constructing Life

1. Ultimate reductionism!1. Ultimate reductionism!

If we view life as a machine, then we can also make it: this is the revolutionary nature of

synthetic biology.

Synthetic biologists want to design new life and construct this from scratch.

（圖片來源：紐約時報）

What is synthetic biology?What is synthetic biology?

Synthetic biology is defined as the design and construction of new biological parts, devices, and

systems and the re-design of existing, natural biological systems for useful purposes

Synthetic biology has been described as ‘the engineer’s approach to biology’

Possible abstraction hierarchy in biological systems

Relationship to systems biologyRelationship to systems biology

Systems biology makes use of computational tools and mathematical modeling in an attempt to integrate and analyse the vast amounts of data that have been generated by genome sequencing and other high through-

put data gathering projects.

Relationship to systems biologyRelationship to systems biology

Synthetic biology tries to build an actual functioning synthetic biological system from a systems biology

model and proves the model is correct.

Picture encoded on E. coli biofilm

DNA sequencing and synthesisDNA sequencing and synthesis

A more specific development which has contributed directly to the emergence of synthetic biology is the

increasing speed and ease of gene synthesis

Chain-termination methods

Single-Molecule DNA Sequencing

Polymerase cycling assembly

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymerase_cycling_assembly

2. Types of synthetic biology2. Types of synthetic biology

DNA-based device constructionDNA-based device construction

These biological components are interchangeable, functionally discrete and capable of being easily

combined in a modular fashion.

This results in the creation of standardized biological parts, devices and systems, called ‘BioBricks’, such as lo

gic gates and oscillators .

The construction of a repressilator

Michael B. Elowitz and Stanislas Leibler; Nature. 2000 Jan 20;403(6767):335-8. Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Repressilator"

The repressilator in Escherichia coli.

A classical genetic inverter device

A PoPS inverter device

Genome-driven cell engineeringGenome-driven cell engineering

‘top down’ attempts:to strip excess DNA away from existing genomes to make more efficient ‘chassis’.

‘bottom up’ attempts:to construct genomes from scratch, including the synthesis of viral genomes such as the polio virus, and the φX174 phage.

Protocell creationProtocell creation

This approach is more interested in trying to recreate living cells.

This often involves inserting molecular components into lipid vesicles.

3. 3. ScientificScientific developments and developments and likely applicationslikely applications

Environmental applicationsEnvironmental applications

Bioremediation.

Microorganisms or even plants could be engineered to degrade pesticides and remove pollutants

New drug development pathways.

The construction of an artificial metabolic pathway in E. coli and yeast to produce a precursor (arteminisin)

for an antimalarial drug.

Industrial applicationsIndustrial applications

Biofuels.

Bacteria could be engineered to synthesize hydrogen or ethanol by degrading cellulose.

Plants and algae could also be engineered to produce biodiesel.