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Workshop Template
• This is a template presentation which can
be adapted for your own school workshop.
• Try to customise it as much as possible,
depending on what age group you’ll be
teaching.
• Make it as exciting as possible by using as
many pictures/videos as possible and by
bringing props (they love cuddly
microbes!).
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Synthetic Biology School
Workshop
The name of your iGEM team
What is synthetic biology?
• The design and construction of new biological
parts, devices and systems.
• The re-design of existing, natural biological
systems for useful purposes.
• We aim to use the same tools, techniques and
principles as engineers.
• Give your own explanation/explain that there’s
no definitive explanation for what synthetic
biology really means.
Imagine a day when you don’t have to…
• Think of some of your own ideas as to how
synthetic biology could impact on your
daily routine. This could be as simple as
brushing your teeth, eating breakfast or
filling up your car!
The SynBio Toolkit: Restriction Enzymes
• Used by bacteria to guard against viruses
• Recognise and cut a specific sequence
• Bacteria protect own genome from cutting
by methylating genomic DNA
Biobricks
• Biobrick Standard Assembly uses 4 restriction
enzyme sites to combine any 2 pieces of DNA.
•
•
•
•
E =EcoRI
X = XbaI
S=SpeI
P=PstI
Synthetic Biology in action
• Think of a new application to biology and
explain how it’s making a difference in our
world.
The iGEM Competition
• The International Genetically Engineered
Machine competition is for
undergraduates.
• Over the summer, each team works on
their own synthetic biology project.
• The iGEM Jamboree is held at M.I.T. in
the Autumn, when awards for the best
projects are given.
A few of our favourite projects
so far…
• Try to go for some of the more lighthearted
projects and don’t bombard them with too
much technical information!
Our iGEM project
• Make sure you explain it so that any
school student will get a basic idea of what
you’re trying to do.
• You may find this a bit tricky, but it’s really
important that scientists learn to
communicate their ideas in an effective
way to non-specialists
Activity One: New Applications
Brainstorm some new applications for
synthetic biology!
Regulation of synthetic biology
• Discuss why regulation of synthetic
biology is so important.
Activity 2: Regulating Synbio
‘Everyone should have access to the
methods used in synthetic biology,
regardless of their background and training’
What do you think?
The media and synthetic biology
• Does the media affect the public’s
perception of synthetic biology? How?
• Why is public engagement so important?
• Find some newspaper headlines/articles
that talk about synthetic biology.
• What language do they use and what
images come to mind when you read
them?
Activity 3: Marketing your own synthetic
biology product
• Think of a name and act out a TV advert
for your product.
• How would you ensure the public that it is
safe to use?
• What would be the advantages of using a
synthetic biology product over a more
traditional alternative?
Thanks for your time!
Any questions