SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY – A KEY DRIVER OF THE BIOECONOMY THROUGH BIODESIGN AND INDUSTRIAL TRANSLATION

ABSTRACT:

Synthetic biology/engineering biology is highly disruptive technology that can be applied across a wide range of fields – well beyond the scope of traditional industrial biotechnology. It is seen as a key driver of the BioEconomy and is part of an alternative industrial model that is based on bio-based feedstocks and synthetic biology (rather than oil-based feedstocks and synthetic chemistry). In terms of productivity, synthetic biology/engineering biology represents three major gain factors: biology itself (that can often replace difficult, or even impossible, steps in industrial processes using chemistry); it naturally lends itself to the extensive application of automation (e.g. foundry technology), and AI. The seminar will discuss the translation of synthetic biology/engineering biology research from the laboratory to industry. Key elements of this process comprise standards, reproducibility and reliability. The basis of the synthetic biology/engineering biology consists of the application of engineering science. New technical standards for the field will be described and how these assist in the reproducibility of bio designs. Information systems are also an important element of bio design. A fully web-based information system will be described that allows the ability to characterise biological components in detail. A second important component in the process of reproducibility comprises the increasing use of DNA foundries. The elements of the Imperial foundry (the London DNA foundry) will be described and how this is part of an overall information infrastructure. Optimisation is an important aspect of BioDesign. This will be discussed in the context of a case study comprising the lycopene pathway and the use of DOE techniques. The final part seminar will address the next stages of industrial translation and how this relates to the agenda for the future of the Bioeconomy.

BIOGRAPHY:

Professor Kitney is Professor of Biomedical Systems Engineering; Co-Director and Co-Founder of the EPSRC National Centre for Synthetic Biology and Innovation (CSynBI) and the UK National Industrial Translation Centre for Synthetic Biology (SynbiCITE) – Imperial College London. Kitney was Founding Head of the Department of Bioengineering at Imperial College. He is a member of the UK Government’s Ministerial Committee on Synthetic Biology, Chair of its Science and Engineering Subgroup, and is an author of both of the UK Government’s strategic roadmaps for synthetic biology. Kitney Chaired The Royal Academy of Engineering Inquiry into Synthetic Biology – Synthetic Biology: Scope, Applications and Implications (published in May 2009). Kitney was made a Fellow of the World Technology Network in 1999 for his innovative work in the fields of health and medicine. He was made an Academician of the International Academy of Biomedical Engineering in September 2003. He is also a Fellow of AIMBE, the America Academy of Biomedical Engineering. In 2006 he was made an Honorary Fellow of both The Royal College of Physicians and The Royal College of Surgeons (UK). He is a Visiting Professor at Singapore’s National University (NUS) and an International Fellow of the US Engineering Biology Research Consortium.