TU Delta - Wetenschap: Green solution for oil spills

Synthetic Biology is a relatively new field, where biology and engineering combine to achieve new biological functions and systems not found in nature. Previous TU Delft teams have won several medals. The pressure is high to uphold that ...

Delta TU Delft - http://www.delta.tudelft.nl/nl/wetenschap/green-solution-for-oil-spills/21312

Congress, Obama Take Sudden Interest in Synthetic Biology

Congress, Obama Take Sudden Interest in Synthetic Biology

Read More http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/05/congress-obama-synthetic-bio/#ixzz0pDtelg4Y

The economist on synthetic biology

An indepth article from the Economist putting in context the groundbreaking work of Dr Venter and Dr Smith.
http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=16163006

diybio.org organising a tshirt contest on opensciencefund

http://opensciencefund.org/2010/05/19/diybio-shirt-design-contest/

ON "CREATION OF A BACTERIAL CELL CONTROLLED BY A CHEMICALLY SYNTHESIZED GENOME" BY VENTER ET AL

Edge has a piece on the stunning work of Craig Venter covering some very interesting viewpoints from great scientists such as Daniel Dennett, Freeman Dyson and many more.

http://www.edge.org/discourse/creation/creation_index.html

'Artificial life' breakthrough announced by scientists

see the entire article here : http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science_and_environment/10132762.stm

Maverick U.S. scientist creates first synthetic genome

for the article see the Vancouver Sun: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/videos/index.html#oDGRSh8_b0jeW8FXmYTDa_KleSkVBsro

BioRuby - Open source bioinformatics library for Ruby

There are great open source packages for bioinformatics when you start searching form them. Here is BioRuby :

BioRuby project provides an integrated environment in bioinformatics for the Ruby language. This project is supported by University of Tokyo (Human Genome Center), Kyoto University (Bioinformatics Center) and the Open Bio Foundation.

http://www.bioruby.org/

Motility detection of microorganisms using a hacked optical mouse

Very interesting to see applications where DIYbio meets Open Hardware like arduino.

Marc Dusseiller is hacking optical mice for microbial motility detection :
http://www.dusseiller.ch/labs/?p=941

Hacked optical mouse for detection of motile single cell organisms from dusjagr on Vimeo.

Igem 2010 europe workshops to be held in France

The Europe workshop is sponsored in part by Genopole®. In 1998, Genopole® was founded in Evry (near Paris) under the impetus of the French government, the local authorities and the French Muscular Dystrophy Association (AFM). Genopole® is based on a novel concept: bringing together academic labs, biotech companies and high-level teaching & training facilities on the same campus. Genopole®’s goal is to promote research excellence and entrepreneurship in life science, in order to position France as a scientific and industrial leader in highly competitive global markets. In twelve years, the Genopole® biopark has made its name as a major French player in biotherapy and biotechnology. It currently hosts 69 biotech companies and 20 academic research labs.

http://2010.igem.org/Workshops/Europe

Adventures in synthetic biology

"Adventures in Synthetic Biology", by Drew Endy, Isadora Deese and the MIT Synthetic Biology Working Group, and illustrated by Chuck Wadey.

http://www.nature.com/nature/comics/syntheticbiologycomic/index.html

One of my favourite TED talks : Craig Venter is on the verge of creating synthetic life

"Can we create new life out of our digital universe?" Craig Venter asks. His answer is "yes" -- and pretty soon. He walks through his latest research and promises that we'll soon be able to build and boot up a synthetic chromosome.

DNA Hackers

Na jarenlange studie van de genetische bouwstenen van de natuur is de mens klaar voor de volgende stap. Van achter onze computer gaan we de natuur anders ontwerpen. Labyrint volgt een nieuwe generatie wetenschappers die in laboratoria synthetisch leven bouwen en zet vraagtekens bij deze ontwikkeling. Want de code van het leven is openbaar en DNA is op internet te koop. Kan iedereen met internet en een DNA lab in zijn garage nieuw leven creëren? Wat kunnen we allemaal maken en wie beschermt ons tegen slechte bedoelingen?

Google translate :

After years of studying the genetic building blocks of nature, man is ready for the next step. From behind our computer, we we will design nature differently. Labyrinth is following a new generation of scientists who in laboratories build synthetic life and challenges this development. Because the code of life DNA is public and is on the Internet for sale. Will anyone with internet access and a DNA lab in his garage be able to create new life? What can we build and who protects us from evil intentions?

http://www.wetenschap24.nl/labyrint/node/132

Lecture Do-It-Yourself Biology Natalie Kuldell Reshma Shetty PhD '08

Inspired by the vast potential of bioengineering, ordinary people are seeking their inner Frankenstein -- doctor, not monster. Two speakers who know their way around Petri dish and beaker discuss the possibilities and pitfalls of do-it-yourself biology with an MIT Museum crowd. http://mitworld.mit.edu/video/646

diyBiology - Domestication of biolotechnology

from 'A many colored glass : reflections on the place of life in the universe' by Freeman Dyson

"Domesticated biotechnology, once it gets in the hands of women and children, will give us an explosion of diversity of new living creatures, rather than the monoculture crops that the big corporations prefer. New lineages will proliferate to replace those that monoculture farming and deforestation have destroyed. Designing genomes will be a personal thing, a new artform as creative as painting or sculpture. Few of the creations will be masterpieces, but all will bring joy to their creators and variety to our fauna and flora."