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Applications of Synthetic Biology

Applications of Synthetic Biology. Kristala L. J. Prather Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology NSF Synthetic Biology Engineering Research Center (SynBERC) Cambridge, MA, USA Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues July 8, 2010.

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Applications of Synthetic Biology

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  1. Applications of Synthetic Biology Kristala L. J. Prather Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology NSF Synthetic Biology Engineering Research Center (SynBERC) Cambridge, MA, USA Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues July 8, 2010

  2. Practical Definition of Synthetic Biology • “making biology easier to engineer” -- Synthetic Biology Engineering Research Center (SynBERC) • Applying engineering principles to biological systems • Design • Modeling • Characterization Key enabling technology: DNA synthesis

  3. Engineering Biology • Biological workspace • Microbes • Mammalian cells • Plants • .... • Broader applications • Therapeutics (Pharmaceuticals, Biologics) • Energy (esp. Fuels) • Chemicals • Agriculture • ….

  4. Achievements in Synthetic Biology • Therapeutics University of California, Berkeley Nature (2006)

  5. Achievements in Synthetic Biology • Therapeutics ETH Zurich, Switzerland PNAS (2009)

  6. Achievements in Synthetic Biology • Fuels University of California, Los Angeles Nature (2008)

  7. Achievements in Synthetic Biology • Fuels with the power of synthetic biology.

  8. Achievements in Synthetic Biology • Energy - Solar Biology as a template for engineering nanostructures

  9. Nature Biotechnology (2009) Metabolic Engineering (2010) Achievements in Synthetic Biology • Chemicals

  10. Nature (2005) Nature (2000) Nature (2009) UC San Diego Nature (2010) Achievements in Synthetic Biology • Biological “Computing”, Programmability The Repressilator

  11. Achievements in Synthetic Biology • And extending the principles of design and construction to whole organisms Science (2010) – JCVI, Rockville, MD

  12. Challenges in Synthetic Biology • Biology is complex, • and often context-dependent. • Synthesis capabilities far exceed design capabilities. • We know how to build, but not yet what to build. • Potential benefits are enormous. • Food, Energy, Medicine • Potential risks are real. • Technological improvements are not limited to beneficial use.

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