LEC Synthetic Biology and its application.ppt
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Synthetic biotechnology
LEC Synthetic Biology and its application.ppt
- 1. Introduction to Synthetic Biology Synthetic Biology (often abbreviated as **Syn Bio**) is a cutting-edge, interdisciplinary field that combines biology with principles of engineering, computer science, and chemistry to design and construct new biological parts, devices, and systems, or re-design existing natural biological systems for useful purposes. General Definition: > “Synthetic biology is the science of designing and building novel biological systems, components, or entire organisms using standardized genetic parts and engineering principles.”
- 2. Why Is Synthetic Biology Important? Biology has traditionally been descriptive—studying existing organisms and molecules. Synthetic biology shifts the focus to constructive biology: building new forms of life with desired functions. This allows us to: * Manufacture pharmaceuticals in engineered bacteria. * Create biosensors for disease detection. * Engineer crops to fix nitrogen or resist pests. * Develop microbial factories for biofuels and biodegradable plastics. * Even design organisms that can survive on Mars.
- 3. Historical Background | Period | Milestone 1970s | Recombinant DNA technology developed (Paul Berg, Boyer & Cohen). | 1990s | Systems biology emerges—modeling complex biological networks. | Early 2000s | Term "synthetic biology" becomes mainstream (Drew Endy, Tom Knight at MIT). | 2010 | Craig Venter’s team **creates the first synthetic cell (*Mycoplasma mycoides (parasite in ruminents* with a synthetic genome). | 2012 onward | **CRISPR-Cas9** revolutionizes genome editing and synthetic circuit design.
- 4. Synthetic Biology vs. Traditional Genetic Engineering | Feature | Synthetic Biology | Genetic Engineering | Approach | Engineering-like: modular, design-build-test cycles | Modify existing genes or insert foreign genes | Goal | Design new biological systems or organisms from scratch | Enhance or repair existing biological traits | Tools | Standardized parts (BioBricks, standardized DNA sequences used as interchangeable parts in synthetic biology and facilitate the creation of new biological functions by combining these standardized parts.), CAD software is to design and model biological systems, automation (significantly transforming synthetic biology by enhancing the efficiency, precision, and throughput of experiments) | Gene cloning, mutagenesis, transformation | Output | Whole circuits, pathways, synthetic genomes
- 5. Core Concepts of Synthetic Biology 1. Standardization Use of standard biological parts (e.g., promoters, terminators, genes) much like electronic components. The BioBrick standard allows easy assembly of genetic parts. 2. Modularity Biological systems are broken into “modules” that can be independently designed and tested. modules are self-contained, reusable components that encapsulate specific functionalities. Modularity is the principle of designing systems by breaking them down into these independent, interconnected modules. 3. Abstraction ( خالص ہ ) Hierarchy (بندی درج ہ ) Parts → Devices → Systems Mirrors engineering disciplines where complex designs are built from simple elements.
- 6. 4. Design-Build-Test-Learn (DBTL) Cycle Iterative process: Design synthetic circuits using software tools. Build DNA constructs via synthesis. Test functionality in cells. Learn from results to improve next design. 5. Orthogonality (the state of being independent or unrelated) Designed parts operate independently of the host’s native systems, reducing unintended interactions.
- 7. Key Technologies Enabling Synthetic Biology DNA Synthesis and Assembly: De novo gene and genome synthesis, Golden Gate, Gibson Assembly. CRISPR and Genome Editing: Precise insertion, deletion, or replacement of DNA sequences. Computational Tools: CAD tools, in silico modeling of genetic circuits. Automation & Biofoundries: (specialized, highly automated facilities designed to accelerate the engineering of biological systems) Robotics and AI for high- throughput synthetic biology workflows. Chassis Organisms:(are engineered microbial hosts used as foundational platforms for constructing new biological systems and pathways) Model microbes (E. coli, yeast) used as biological platforms.
- 8. Interdisciplinary Nature of Synthetic Biology Synthetic Biology brings together expertise from: Biology (molecular, cellular, microbiology) Engineering (systems, electrical, mechanical) Computer Science (modeling, simulation, machine learning) Chemistry (biochemistry, metabolic engineering) Ethics and Policy (governance, regulation, biosecurity) Types of Synthetic Biology Approaches Top-down approach Start with existing organisms and simplify or rewire them (e.g., minimal genome projects). Bottom-up approach Build synthetic life from scratch using biomolecules to mimic life-like behavior (e.g., protocells).
- 9. Potential Impact Areas | Sector | Application | | ----------------- | --------------------------------------------------- | | Medicine | Custom therapeutics, diagnostics, and vaccines | Agriculture | Pest-resistant crops, soil microbiome engineering | Industry | Green manufacturing, biodegradable plastics | Energy | Microbial production of biofuels, hydrogen | Environment | Bioremediation, pollution sensing and cleanup | Space Biology | Engineering organisms for extraterrestrial habitats
- 10. Ethical and Social Considerations Biosecurity: Could synthetic biology be misused for bioterrorism? Biosafety: Can synthetic organisms escape and impact ecosystems? Ethics: Are we “playing God” by creating new life forms? Regulation: How should synthetic organisms be governed? Responsible innovation frameworks are essential for balancing progress with precaution. Conclusion Synthetic biology represents a paradigm ()تمثیل shift in biological research and biotechnology, transforming biology into an engineerable discipline. It holds transformative potential across multiple industries, but must be developed thoughtfully with ethical foresight.