Transcript Document

GAMES camp
Synthetic Biology and iGEM
(International Genetically Engineered Machines)
General outline
- General background on biology
- Synthetic biology
What is it, what can you do with it, etc
Difference between it and genetic engineering
Project Examples
- iGEM
- Activity
paper plasmids?
Automated Construction; standards; and abstraction!!!
Drew Endy - Defining Synthetic Biology
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XI
uh7KDRzLk
Classic Syn Bio Projects
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Hello World!
Jay Keasling and Artimesinin - Cheap Cure for Malaria
MIT team created Wintergreen smelling E.Coli
UIUC team is developing a
Bacterial Decoder
Importance of Engineering Principles in Biology
• Automated Construction
o DNA Synthesis and Sequencing (reading and writing
DNA)
• Standards
o Promoters, etc. need to have standard strengths just
like screws need to be a standard size
• Abstraction
o Memorizing base pairs of DNA (start codon = ATG) is
like memorizing binary code for computer programs
(001010110) -- we need to work on a higher level to
be effective
Synthetic Biology
•An Engineering technology based on biology
which complements rather than replaces standard approaches
•Engineering synthetic constructs will
Enable quicker and easier experiments
Enable deeper understanding of the basic mechanisms
Enable applications in nanotechnology, medicine and agriculture
Become the foundational technology of the 21st century
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication -- Leonardo da Vinci
SynBio - Key Points
How is it different from Genetic Engineering?
What's the point? Why is it so cool / important / helpful?
iGEM 2010
International Genetically
Engineered Machines Undergraduate Research Team
What is iGEM
More Info on iGEM
Info on UIUC iGEM
Plasmid Project!!!
Terms to know:
Restriction Enzyme:
Ligase:
Plasmid:
Screen:
Selection:
Plasmid Project!!!
Recombinant DNA technology
1. identify gene you want to transfer to target organism.
2. use restriction enzymes to remove the gene from the host
organism.
3. use the same restriction enzymes to cut a plasmid.
Now both the plasmid and the genes have the same
overhangs--they can fit together like puzzle pieces!
4. Paste the gene into the plasmid using Ligase
5. transform the plasmid into the target cell.
6. screening and selection.
Thanks for coming!
Questions?!?
Check out our Wiki pages! http://2010.igem.org/Team:UIUCIllinois and http://2010.igem.org/Team:UIUC-Illinois-Software
If you've more questions or want to look us up, e-mail
[email protected] or Meagan at
[email protected]