Once upon a time there was a branch known as chemistry. It was/is the study of substances obtained from the living organisms. It was a hit-and-trail approach for studying compounds. The field was restricted to mainly organic substances. But, then slowly and steadily the field of ‘Synthetic Chemistry’ developed. Once scientists understood how chemicals are made, they soon started developing their own chemicals. And then, it ushered a revolution in fields as diverse as medicine to food technology.
The same is happening in the area of Biology. We now are closer to understanding life than ever. We today know about DNA, Ribosomes, Genetic code, cell communication methods and many other intricate things. Yes, we are quite far away from understanding how the life really works but at least we have the knowledge sufficient to allow safe tinkering with the life itself.
This field which involves modifying life or even creating life from the scratch is known as Synthetic Biology. Its about making biology work for us in a predictable manner. By constructing new organisms we may even get to know how existing biology works.
Synthetic Biology will open unlimited opportunities. We can (theoretically as of now) program a single cell to grow into a whole tables, chairs, etc. Well, this is just another application of distant (or not too distant) future. But immediate future will see bacteria detecting land mines or fighting pathogens inside our bodies. We may also program cells to regrow our damaged body parts.
Synthetic biology is often compared to electronics engineering. In electronics we have a AND gate and a NOT gate. Combine both and we get a NAND gate. Analogous to this, Synthetic Biology aims to make organisms or parts of organisms as components which can be combined together and achieve desired results without knowing internal mechanisms of these components.
The future is Synthetic Biology. I can clearly see it revolutionizing our world in next 5-10 years. We may then wonder how we lived *without* Synthetic Biology as we know wonder about the world without electronics.
Resources
1. Wikipedia’s entry on Synthetic Biology
2. Wired, Life Reinvented
3. SyntheticBiology.org
4. Squidoo Lenses: Synthetic Biology
“safe tinkering with life itself” huh? lets hope you are never infected by this synthetic organism such as myself and literally thousands of others are. Have a look at the video found here at http://www.crossinglines.net
Perhaps you have heard about what is being called for a lack of a better term, morgellons disease. The video will explain why this illness has been so hard to figure out and also perhaps why many are quick to label it a mental disorder. you can do many things with life, but safely tinkering with it is not in mankinds best health interests. at least not without a great deal more oversight and regulation.
If you are interested in Morgellons Disease or experience Morgellons symptoms, I would like to invite you to participate in the Morgellons Disease Information Community and Message Board at morgellonsite.com
hi, i find it interesting , can i have more infos?
Here are links to the most compelling information to date.
http://silentsuperbug-reference.blogspot.com/
http://silentsuperbug-keyarticles.blogspot.com/
http://silentsuperbug-political.blogspot.com/
http://silentsuperbug-ecology.blogspot.com/
http://silentsuperbug-plantinsectcelltech.blogspot.com/
for Images and HD video Microscopy:
http://silentsuperbug-micro.blogspot.com/
http://tinyurl.com/yp2azz
This group refuses to associate with the term “morgellons disease” as it is becoming known as in the USA. What this group is documenting, and morgellons disease are without doubt, one and the same.
One more link for the CDC.
http://www.cdc.gov/unexplaineddermopathy/
Hi, just in case someone is interested: there is an upcoming synthetic biology symposium organized by Wyss Institute in April. Check out the details at bit.ly/aqGTmX if you are interested 🙂
Synthetic Biology:
I am not a biologist, just a translator looking for information about the Morgellons disease. My impression so far: It could not have come into existence without synthetic biology. Correct me if I am wrong.
With each new technology comes a lot of enthousiasm. The investigation of risks? – Ah, well, we’ll see to that later…
The world is full of examples.
Hannah.