SynBioFromLeukipposInstitute

"In May 2010, J. Craig Venter and his team announced the creation of a “synthetic cell,” or as the team described it, a process of “synthesis, assembly, cloning, and successful transplantation [of a synthetic genome] to create a new cell controlled by this synthetic genome.” They chose to start with a simple bacterium, Mycoplasma genitalium (“M. genitalium”) because it has “the smallest complement of genes of any known organism capable of independent growth in the laboratory.” Using chemical enzymes and live bacteria, they were able to replicate the genome sequence of M. genitalium and then transplant it into a natural cell controlled by the synthetic genome. Although the team had not created a new cell entirely from chemicals, their research demonstrates progress towards that end...."

I invite you to join our project WikiGenes Synthetic Biology. This project is started by Marianna Limas and me. Aim: a wiki where first class educational material for Synthetic Biology is collected. 

Several people asked me to write a book about Synthetic Biology. Moreover I got the request to write a lecture series for a 2 weeks course in SynBio. This made me thinking about how it would be best to organize teaching material for SynBio. I decided against the traditional form of book and lecture. I observe, that publishing and education is under substantial change. If I understand the recent Steve Jobs biography correct is Apple planning to revolutionize the textbook marked. They are developing a model for free textbooks. This might be a major game changer. It is still not public how they will do this, but for sure different from traditional models. Moreover we see that e.g. MIT and Stanford are going online with their courses. It is still unclear what this will lead to, however education is on the move towards a novel digital form. I have read an article in Nature Genetics about WikiGenes http://www.nature.com/ng/journal/v40/n9/full/ng.f.217.html and think this might be the solution how we can get first class SynBio education for free. My idea is to do this in collaboration with as many people as possible. First we set up an table of content - a structure of the wiki. If we have agreed on this we can than write all different parts dependent on our knowledge. We can also ask leaders in the respective fields to contribute. All people who contribute will get credit, since all authors are trackable. You can use this in your CV. - So what can people do who want to participate? 1 - write a comment on this group page 2 - Please join our team - contact me in one or another form. 3- tell as many as possible people about this project - 4 Register on Wikigene 5 - Have a look on the WikiGene page Synthetic Biology http://www.wikigenes.org/e/mesh/e/27630.html?referer-ignore=1 I have place a very rough sketch for a table of content. Please modify and expand this and contribute with your comments. —— I hope as many as possible people will contribute. We need to be many in order to make this an awesome page to the benefit for us all.

Fuel From Waste?- ScienceNOW...

"In the biofuels business, the idea of converting nonfood plants to fuels is like a mirage: enticing but seemingly just out of reach...."

"You’re in the kitchen washing dishes, and you notice a leak in your drainpipe. Expecting guests in 10 minutes and with no time to call a plumber, you reach for a handy bottle of PicoPlumber bacteria mix and pour it down the drain. Why, you ask? Simple: these are not your ordinary bacteria; they have been genetically programmed to clog leaky pipes. These bacteria swim down your drainpipe and localize at the rupture; they are able to sense each other’s presence, and when a critical mass of them accumulates, they all rupture and release a bio-glue that quickly seals the crack and stops the dripping, just in time for your guests’ arrival...."

I invite you to join our project WikiGenes Synthetic Biology.

Aim: a wiki where first class educational material for Synthetic Biology is collected.

This project is started by Marianna Limas and Gerd Moe-Behrens.

Background for the project:
Several people asked me to write a book about Synthetic Biology. Moreover I got the request to write a lecture series for a two weeks course in SynBio. This made me thinking about how it would be best to organize teaching material for SynBio. I decided against the traditional form of book and lectures. I observe that publishing and education is undergoing substantial changes. If I understand the recent Steve Jobs biography correct Apple is planning to revolutionize the textbook marked. They are developing a model for free textbooks. This might be a major game changer. It is still not public how they will do this, but for sure it will be different from traditional models. Moreover we see that e.g. MIT and Stanford are going online with their courses. It is still unclear what this will lead to, however education is on the move towards a novel digital form. I have read an article in Nature Genetics about WikiGenes http://www.nature.com/ng/journal/v40/n9/full/ng.f.217.html and think this might be the solution to how we can get first class SynBio education for free. My idea is to do this in collaboration with as many people as possible. First we set up a table of content - a structure of the wiki. If we have agreed on this, then we can write all the different parts according to our knowledge. We can also ask leaders in the respective fields to contribute. All people who contribute will get credit, since all authors are trackable. You can use this in your CV.

What can people do who want to participate?

1 - Write a comment on this page.
2 - Please join our team - contact me leukipposinstitute@googlemail.com
3 - Tell as many people as possible about this project.
4 - Register on Wikigene. www.wikigenes.org
5 - Have a look at the WikiGene page Synthetic Biology http://www.wikigenes.org/e/mesh/e/27630.html?referer-ignore=1
I have submitted a very rough sketch for a table of content. Please modify and expand this and contribute with your comments.

I hope as many people as possible will contribute. We need to be many in order to make this an awesome page, to the benefit for us all.

"Synthetic biology is an emerging branch of molecular biology that uses synthetic genetic constructs to create man-made cells or organisms that are capable of performing novel and/or useful applications. Using a synthetic chemically sensitive genetic toggle switch to activate appropriate fluorescent protein indicators (GFP, RFP) and a cell division inhibitor (minC), we have created a novel E. coli strain that can be used as a highly specific, yet simple and inexpensive chemical recording device..."