1. But is it art? Brandeis University 12.07.05

2. Panel of artists…. and their art… Will the real artist please stand up?

4. Genetically-encoded Oscillator Period is ~120’ (two doublings) Time (minutes)

5. http://my.integritynet.com.au/purdic/oscillators.htm Electronics 101 Hartley Oscillator Colpitts Oscillator

6. 1. Motivation why engineer biology?

7. 1. Motivation why engineer biology? 2. Plan how to engineer biology?

8. 1. Motivation why engineer biology? 2. Plan how to engineer biology? 3. Execution state of the art (stupid bacteria tricks)

9. 1. Motivation why engineer biology? 2. Plan 3. Execution … because we can … because there’s so much to build … because there’s so much to learn

10. Genetically-Encoded Digital Logic “transfer function” time at 42°C transcript level 3’ heat shock promoter heat shock response gene

11. Heat Shock Response:  32 induction Straus, Walter, and Gross Nature (1987) 329: 347

12. Genetically-Encoded Logic Functions heat shock promoter heat shock response gene

13. Genetically-Encoded Logic Functions heat shock promoter repressor gene repressible promoter heat shock response gene

14. Genetically-Encoded Logic Functions heat shock promoter repressor gene repressible promoter heat shock response gene

15. Genetically-Encoded Logic Functions heat shock promoter repressor gene repressible promoter heat shock response gene X

16. Logic Functions Inverter inputoutput 10 01 AND gate a b aboutput 000 100 010 111

17. Programming with DNA: hiding the details repressor gene repressible promoter Genetic Inverter Lambda cI, P22 c2, lacI, TetR… P RM, P R, P lac, P tet …

18. Programming with DNA: hiding the details repressor gene repressible promoter Genetic Inverter Lambda cI, P22 c2, lacI, TetR… P RM, P R, P lac, P tet …

19. Programming with DNA: hiding the details Genetic Inverter

20. Nature is source for code “Genetic Parts” Synthetic Biology: programming with DNA Make just about anything Logically combined in a cell http://www.nature.com/nature/comics/syntheticbiologycomic

21. “There is a great satisfaction in building good tools for other people to use.” -Freeman Dyson Biology Engineering

22. “There is a great satisfaction in building good tools for other people to use.” -Freeman Dyson Biology Engineering “how can we help?”

23. “There is a great satisfaction in building good tools for other people to use.” -Freeman Dyson Biology Engineering “Cells are tiny machines” “OK then, build me a cell”

24. 1. Motivation why engineer biology? 2. Plan 3. Execution

25. 1. Motivation 2. Plan how to engineer biology? 3. Execution

26. 1. Motivation 2. Plan how to engineer biology? 3. Execution …what foundational technologies are needed? …are safeguards needed?

27. Works of Art “A good scientist is a person with original ideas. A good engineer is a person who makes a design that works with as few original ideas as possible. There are no prima donnas in engineering.” -Freeman Dyson

28. well characterized predictable modular insulated stable Attributes for Foundational Technologies

29. well characterized predictable modular…. insulated stable Attributes for Foundational Technologies

30. http://parts.mit.edu 225 basic parts 454 composite parts

31. http://parts.mit.edu Standard Assembly

32. Broadly consider two sources of risk 1. from the technology itself 2. from the people (hackers) who use it http://biobricks.org/ G. Church, “Let us go forth and safely multiply” Nature (2005) 438:423

33. 1. Motivation 2. Plan how to engineer biology? 3. Execution

34. 1. Motivation 2. Plan 3. Execution state of the art

35. 1. Motivation 2. Plan 3. Execution state of the art …SB accomplishments …undergrad. contributions

37. Nature (2005) 434: 1130

38. A new kind of biofilm: “coli-roid”

39. conditionlacZresult lightlowlight color darkhighdark color Light Dependent Gene Expression Phytochromes from Synechocystis Osmoregulation system from E. coli LacZ reporter strain from literature (1979)

40. Light Dependent Gene Expression

41. Biofilm v2.0 mRFP conditionmRFPresult lighthighred darklownot red

42. 1. Motivation why engineer biology? 2. Plan how to engineer biology? 3. Execution state of the art

43. Three comic strips to conclude Worst case scenario: total failure

44. Three comic strips to conclude Worst case scenario: total failure Best case: total success, are we ready?

45. Three comic strips to conclude Worst case scenario: total failure Best case: total success, are we ready? Biological Engineers, an oxymoron?

46. Credits Tom KnightDrew EndyRandy Rettberg

47. the end