What is synthetic biology?

The design and construction of new

biological parts, devices and systems
that do not exist in the natural world
and also the redesign of existing
biological systems to perform specific
tasks.

http://www.etcgroup.org/upload/publication/602/01/synbioreportweb.pdf

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIuh7KDRzLk

Adventures in Synthetic Biology (comic by Drew Endy)

http://mit.edu/endy/www/scraps/comic/AiSB.vol1.pdf

Synthetic biology hierarchy

inspired by computer/electrical engineering

Andrianantoandro et al., Molecular Systems Biology 16 May 2006

Engineering Life: Building a FAB for Biology, Sci. Am. Feb. 2007

Bacterial photography

Engineering Life: Building a FAB for Biology, Sci. Am. Feb. 2007

Programming bacteria to form complex patterns

Engineering Life: Building a FAB for Biology, Sci. Am. Feb. 2007

Semisynthesis strategy for producing artemisinin

Keasling, J.D., ACS Chemical Biology 2008, Vol. 3, No. 1

Using genetic parts to program bacteria

Voigt, C.A., Current Opinion in Biotechnology 2006, 17:548557

DNA parts to program bacteria

Voigt, C.A., Current Opinion in Biotechnology 2006, 17:548557

DNA parts to program bacteria

Voigt, C.A., Current Opinion in Biotechnology 2006, 17:548557

DNA parts to program bacteria

Voigt, C.A., Current Opinion in Biotechnology 2006, 17:548557

iGEM
(International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition)

A competition by teams of undergrads to build genetically engineered machines

using standardized biological parts (BioBricks) or making their own.
Push-on Push-off switch
(using a bistable switch and NOR gate)

Registry of Standard Biological Parts (BioBricks)

http://parts.mit.edu
Provides free access to an open commons of basic biological functions that can be
used to program synthetic biological systems
Anybody may contribute, draw upon, or improve the parts maintained within the
Registry.
Endy D, 2005. Nature 438: 449-453

BioBrick Part Types

BioBrick Reporters

GFP device

lacI Promoter

BioBricks

BioBrick Standard Assembly

Engineering Life: Building a FAB for Biology, Sci. Am. Feb. 2007

Input and Output Modules using BioBricks

http://openwetware.org/wiki/User:Vincent_Rouilly/Hands_On_BioBrick_Activity

BioBrick Device Data Sheet

Evolution Breaks Synthetic Circuits

Arkin and Fletcher, Genome Biology 2006, 7:114

Endy D, 2005. Nature 438: 449-453

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-mCWIGVgmQ&feature=related