Genetic Circuit Challenge Workshop Thursday 24 Nov 2011 Bentham seminar room 1

What is Synthetic Biology ? A new area of biological research that combines science & engineering

Science  Biology is the understanding of what living systems are and how they work. A discovery science.  Recombinant DNA technology is the beginning of using (usually) single cloned genes in new hosts to make a product.  Synthetic Biology is how we could build novel biological entities based on the knowledge we now have of biological systems.

Engineering  The use of Engineering Principals for these designs and constructions.  Engineering Principals - parts are standardised and can be put together in a modular way to create the final device or machine.  Use the Engineering Cycle way of thinking.  This has led to the idea of the need for standardising parts in synthetic biology.

Major Areas in SynBio  Genetic circuits: Oscillators, Biosensors, etc.  Metabolic pathway construction: de novo designs, new drugs, bioenergy, etc.  Structured devices: Proteins, DNA, macromolecules, etc.  Artificial cells: Novel bacteria, Synthetic genomes, etc.

 modified microbes to make bio-fuels or to clean up toxic waste  new diagnostic devices based on enzymes and cells  cells designed to make chemicals and drugs that are currently made from petrochemicals.  biological devices to be used in electronic or optical devices. Examples

International Genetically Engineered Machine  Registry of Standard Biological Parts (

Search by Catalogues Search by Part’s name Search by text, name, subparts, superparts

UCL iGEM Project Hypoxon

Cambridge E. Chromi

Useful Websites  (Registry)  (EMBL-EBI)  (NCBI)  ( database for E.coli K-12 MG1655 )  (iGEM main page)  ( specific year of iGEM competition )