WELCOME TO BOSTON LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE Biological Research Biotechnology and Synthetic Biology

Jim Dixon Sharon High School Leroy The Mule Bryce Canyon

 What is Life?  How would you define Life?  What are it’s characteristics?  I mean, you know it when you see it right?

COMMONLY LISTED CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE  Is made of Cells  Contains DNA  Maintains homeostasis  Has metabolism  Reacts to the environment  Grows and develops  Reproduces  Evolves (as a population)

 Is Leroy alive?  Where do Mules come from?

WHAT IS A MACHINE?  A device consisting of fixed and moving parts that modifies mechanical energy and transmits it in a more useful form.  A system or device for doing work, together with its power source and auxiliary equipment.  A system or device, that performs or assists in the performance of a human task

 Is Leroy a machine?  Can there be a living machine?  Does a machine have to be made by humans?

 What will we doing in camp?  Experiments and research  Discussions  Hopefully having fun  You will….

YOUR PROJECT  Research an example of biotechnology or synthetic biology.  Design a genetic machine  Report to us (Power Point)