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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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.

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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