SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY: A GENERAL OVERVIEW
Major Challenges
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Future Hopes and Dreams
Since the development of synthetic biology has only begun recently, the future of a world powered and created by synthetic microbes is still out there. In order to "synthesize" this goal, scientists are working hard to produce a viable way to develop these microbes. Over the next few years, these scientists hope to:
SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY EXPLAINED (Video #1)
Video by James Hutson (Sponsored by Bridge8) Funded by the Australian Government
What are Synthetic Microbes?
A microbe is a tiny organism that seem to exist everywhere and on everything. You might know them as germs, viruses, and bacteria. These little bugs are able to perform a innumerable amount of tasks, which makes them craved by scientists. A synthetic microbe is a organism that have been specifically engineered by scientists to perform a certain task. These microbes could be programmed to produce drugs and antibiotics like insulin which help control diabetes or to produce a never-ending supply of fuel to power the transportation of the future. The possibilities are endless!
Creating the Synthetic Microbe
DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the genetic blueprint of the cells that hold it in its nucleus. The DNA "tells" the cell to do specific things such as releasing an enzyme or synthesizing a protein. DNA is made up of 4 nitrogenous bases: A (adenine), T thymine), C (cytosine), and G (guanine). Scientists are able to manipulate these bases and implant them into a host cell to change what the DNA tells the microbe to do. However, with current technology and funding, scientists can only "copy" a microbe. This is done by inputting each base of the target DNA into a computer in order to create the organism's genome. After the entire genome is completely computerized, the scientist then create a copy by recreating each and every single chemical part of the microbe's DNA. They implant this DNA into a microbe, whose DNA have been removed. As a result, the synthetic microbe now has the functions an properties of the original organism.
Picture #2 Basic double helix shape of a DNA strand, Adenine pairs with Thymine and Guanine pairs with Cytosine.
In order to understand the intricacies of the synthetic microbe, it is important to understand the general idea of the science behind these cellular machines. This field is called Synthetic Biology. Synthetic Biology, according to the Synthetic Biology Engineering Research Center or SynBERC, is the development and construction of new biological entities such as enzymes, genetic circuits, and cells or the redesign of existing biological systems. If you want to get a better idea about this topic, please view the video on the left.
Money
- DNA base pairs cost at least 1$ to be synthesized.
- Takes hundreds of thousands of base pairs to create one complete genome of a simple microbe.
- Technology not advanced enough to provide cheaper forms of synthesis.
- 1. Develop faster, more cost effective ways to synthesize genes.
- 2. Genetically engineer another microbe to produce a certain product like biofuels or biomaterials.
- 3. Create and introduce a self-destruct gene in the newly developed bacteria to terminate the microbe if it is introduced to the environment.
Picture #1 A synthetic microbe is like a little cellular machine as seen in this image.
Picture #3 Imagine doing a giant 160,000 piece puzzle just by you and a small team of people that's what designing a synthetic microbe is like!
Picture #4 These synthetically made bacteria replaced crucial genes!
Improvements on Traditional Technology
Currently, synthetic biologists are using the traditional technologies of genetic engineering in order to develop a synthetic microbe. As a result, it is neither cost-effective nor time-effective. The interest for a synthetic microbe has only recently been sparked by 15 years of hard work Venter did on his own synthetic microbe. We are sorry to say, that the technology for this field has not been improved. However, scientists are beginning to improve upon these techniques and make efficiently create a synthetic microbe nearly instantly.
Time
- Took Craig Venter 15 years to make one replicating bacteria.
- Technology is not yet ready to make microbes faster.
- Amount of time needed to synthesize each and every single base pair for DNA is unreasonable.
The DNA of an average person laid end to end would stretch from the sun and back, over 30 times!