Defined as the design and construction of biological
devices/systems for useful purposes, Synthetic Biology challenges the realm of
study for scientists and engineers alike. This new form of genetic engineering
has shown to be very advantageous, creating more standardization, modularity
and abstraction through a variety of techniques to help maximize the quality of
our results and our understanding of those results, while minimizing cost and
time. One of the more common (and simple) methods used in this field involves
fluorescent indicators in DNA plasmids, known as Biobricks, to express specific
sequences in genes, such as antibiotic resistance. The best way to think about
these Biobricks is to visualize Legos and how the individual pieces can come
together to make something new and exciting, this is what is happening to the
Biobricks inside the DNA; restriction enzymes cut specific sequences located at
the restriction sites and a new Biobrick is inserted. Biologists are now able
to add biobricks to transformed bacterial cell cultures (using selective media)
where digestion, ligation and transformation can occur more rapidly and results
can be seen more easily, through fluorescence (UV-Vis) and/or a chromatography;
this process has also significantly improved the measurement and integrity of
DNA in each biobrick. This is just one example of how beneficial this concept
can be when applied to science, professionals from different disciplines have the opportunity to collaborate and improve both current
and future methodologies and techniques.
Many students and professionals with
diverse backgrounds and degrees have accepted this challenge and are working
towards creating ‘living devices’ to help improve the effectiveness and
efficiency of biological assays. The International Genetically Engineered
Machine (iGEM) Competition was created to help promote students’ ideas and
research in Synthetic Biology; since its creation in 2003, the competition has
grown exponentially, including students of all ages from across the country.
Many of these students have provided new innovative ideas and techniques that
can be used around the world. One research project titled E. Chromi engineered and successfully employed a colored
‘indicator’ in feces, through an inducer, which responded to changes in the
body (such as concentration). So essentially what they were able to do was color-code diseases by simply inserting Biobricks into e. coli. What do you think about using this method to indicate certain problems within you? It seems a little strange but I think it could help speed up the 'diagnostic stage' for many people.
Although this field is contributing some amazing things to science, there are many concerns about public
safety, security and ethics involving some of the research being done. Our society’s increasing use and reliance on
technology has improved our way of living tremendously, but it has also created
an array of problems that, otherwise, would not exist. As researchers progress and improve their techniques in the field of Synthetic Biology, we must be cautious and aware of the potential dangers it also creates.
Check out the E. Chromi project here!
Funny that you mention this topic because last semester I was in a seminar where someone had came in and introduced Biobricks. It amazes me how far we have come in our biological advances, and yet its still growing!
ReplyDeleteGood old Biobricks, I remember being in biochemistry lab with you and were had to use E. coli with our Biobricks. I still like the idea of using Biobricks to identify if you have a certain disease by drinking the solution and waiting till it moves throughout the body and then can have an idea of what you may possible have.
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