1DegreeBio Blog: Open Source Software to Diminish Synthetic Biology Risk

In recent years, the term synthetic biology has become very popular. Synthetic biology is a new area of biological research and technology that combines science and engineering. It encompasses a variety of different approaches, methodologies, and disciplines with a variety of definitions. The common goal is the design and construction of new biological functions and systems not found in nature. The advancement of synthetic biology relies on several key enabling technologies, provided at ever increasing speed and lower cost. DNA sequencing, fabrication of genes, modeling the synthetic gene's behavior and ensuring its precise measurements are the essential tools used in 


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Smartmoney: Rise of the Senior-Citizen Entrepreneur

If you think your adult children – or your grandchildren – are the only ones who have the brains and passion to be successful entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley and elsewhere, think again.


.....And maturity is likely to play an even bigger role going forward. Other fields in science and engineering are “advancing just as rapidly” as the computing world: robotics, synthetic biology, medicine and nanomaterials, among others. “Though college dropouts may know all about social media,” Mr. Wadhwa writes, “it is very unlikely they understand the intricacies of nanotechnology and artificial intelligence as well as their elders do....


Read more : http://blogs.smartmoney.com/encore/2012/03/05/rise-of-the-senior-citizen-entrepreneur/?link=SM_home_blogsum

Prokorala news: Man-made photosynthesis to boost food output

Photosynthesis, one of the most powerful biological processes on earth, permits plants to convert solar energy into food and fuel, but with only one percent efficiency. Richard Cogdell, professor at the University of Glasgow is trying to improve its productivity by creating an artificial 'leaf' to convert solar energy into liquid fuel.

Read more: http://www.prokerala.com/news/articles/a281361.html

fastcoexist.com: A Trip To The Living City Of The Future

Our built environment doesn’t have to be static. With the right synthetic biology, it can respond automatically to changes in temperature or moisture level, and even react to natural disasters, hunkering down during earthquakes or removing toxins after a toxic spill.

Read more: http://www.fastcoexist.com/1679275/a-trip-to-the-living-city-of-the-future

Redefining Open Source for Synthetic Biology

Abstract:

Synthetic biology is an emerging technology combining information technology and biology. One notable presumption of synthetic biology is that scientists, with the assistance of computers, can create new life form without using naturally occurring organisms as references. However, it may be an overstatement in practice, because, even a single-base variation in a genome might dictate whether the synthetic organism could survive. Unlike the open source in information technologies, the open-source movement in synthetic biology raises biosafety concerns. The Article proposed a modified version of open source for the development of synthetic biology.

 Download article here: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1990113

Another introduction to synthetic biology

Title says all (click here) : 

Open source.com : BioCurious? The DIY garage biology movement

Would you enjoy reprogramming lab bacteria with DNA from a jellyfish to make them glow green? How about hacking your own genetic data to find out what percentage of the Neanderthal genome you share?  Or building a device that splits water into oxygen and hydrogen? Read more : http://opensource.com/health/12/1/open-labs

BBC Horizon: Playing God

Adam Rutherford meets a new creature created by American scientists. It is part goat, part spider, and its milk can be used to create artificial spider's web. Read more : http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00n57vm

Synthetic biology helps to develop "greener bombs"

"The objective of this Statement of Need (SON) is to develop innovative synthetic biological approaches to produce critical U.S. military energetic ingredients and their precursors using renewable resources and bioprocesses that reduce hazardous waste streams, energy usage, and waste disposal costs encountered with the existing conventional organic manufacturing processes. Both fundamental research to develop approaches applicable to these classes of compounds as well as applied research targeting a specific energetic compound or precursor is of interest."
Read more here : http://www.serdp.org/content/download/12059/146147/version/2/file/WPSON-13-04+Synthetic+Biology+for+Energetics.pdf

Next Generation Synthetic Biology Techniques, George Church

NEXT GENERATION TECHNIQUES, George Church, Harvard Medical School from Holly Million on Vimeo.

Living neon signs

I find it  amazing to see the building blocks and Synthetic biological circuitry come to life in areas so close to our daily experience. Signs are everywhere! What will be next? Pavement? Roofs? Walls?

From the article :

In an example of life imitating art, biologists and bioengineers at UC San Diego have created a living neon sign composed of millions of bacterial cells that periodically fluoresce in unison like blinking light bulbs.


Read more here : http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressreleases/researchers_create_living_neon_signs_composed_of_millions_of_glowing_bacter/

Easily 'Re-programmable cells' could be key in creation of new life forms

I wonder if i ever get to write my own 'Hello World' app on a cell :

Scientists at The University of Nottingham are leading an ambitious research project to develop an in vivo biological cell-equivalent of a computer operating system.

Read more : http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/news/pressreleases/2011/november/easily-re-programmable-cells-could-be-key-in-creation-of-new-life-forms.aspx

Sciencemag : The Allure of Synthetic Biology

Probably a very interesting collection of articles, however i have no acces to them.

http://www.sciencemag.org/content/333/6047/1235.full?rss=1

Developing standards in synthetic biology

A very interesting presentation on standardisation in syntheticbiology.

Imagine a world where:

• Each company made its own incompatible nut,  bold and screw?
• Every town had its own way to measure time.
• Every internet provider used different protocols for  the  ‘TCP/IP’ stack, email, web etc. 
• and so on

Standards are vital for the normal functioning of society




The presentation can be found here : www.dsrc.rpi.edu/presentations/RPITalk_2.pptx

Mimicking cells with transistors - MIT News Office

Mimicking cells with transistors

Analog — rather than digital — circuits could enable models of biological systems that are more efficient, more accurate and easier to build.

Mimicking cells with transistors - MIT News Office

Introducing Synthetic Biology - by iGEM Team TU Munich 2011

NSF : A Call to Arms for Synthetic Biology

Scientists have replaced all of the DNA in the arm of a yeast chromosome with computer-designed, synthetically produced DNA that is structurally distinct from its original DNA to produce a healthy yeast cell.


Read more : http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=121639&WT.mc_id=USNSF_51&WT.mc_ev=click

workshop book : Synthetic Biology International Workshop – Berkeley 2011

Here you can find the workshop book of the :

“International Synthetic Biology Workshop: A Bio-based Future”

29-31st of August 2011http://synbio.ku.dk/english/past_events/berkeley_2011/

Another introduction to Synthetic Biology

An introduction to Syntethic Biology posted on youtube by The university of Bristol

What are the best online synthetic biology resources?

Some good resources on Synthetic Biology : http://www.quora.com/What-are-the-best-online-synthetic-biology-resources/answer/Alex-Yang-1