Extreme Genetic Engineering: Aii Introduction to Synthetic Biology................................................................ 1
Introducdon: Original Syn?...................................................................................................................................3
Synbio Basics..........................................................................................................................................................6
Read/Write DNA: Gene Synthesis....................................................................................................................6
Cleaning up the Codę - Codons, Proteinsand Pathways...............................................................................9
Five Alive - An Introduction to Five Major Areas of Research in Synthetic Biology.......................................13
1: Making Minimal Microbes- Post-modern Genomics...............................................................................13
2: Assembly Linę DNA- “Lego" Life-Forms to Order..................................................................................15
3: Building Artificial Cells from the Bottom Up - Ersatz Evolution............................................................17
4: Pathway Engineering - Bug Sweatshops....................................................................................................19
5: Expanding Earth*s Genetic System - Alien Genetics................................................................................21
Implications of Synthetic Biology:......................................................................................................................23
I. Building a Better Bio-Weapon - What does synthetic biology mean for bioweapons?............................23
II. The New Synthetic Energy Agenda - Rebooting Biofuels.......................................................................27
III. Synthesizing New Monopolies from Scratch - Synthetic Biology and Intellectual Monopoly.............32
IV. Synthetic Conservation - What are the implications of gene synthesis and digital DNA for
conservation of genetic resources and the politics of biodiversity?......................................................36
V. Synthetic Commodities - Implications for Trade.....................................................................................40
VI. Synbiosafety................................................................................................................................................42
Synthetic Governance (Trust us. We’re experts.)..............................................................................................46
Recommendations...............................................................................................................................................49
Case Study: Synthetic Biology’s Poster Child - Microbial Production of Artemisinin to Treat Malaria........52
Glossary................................................................................................................................................................56
Endnotes...............................................................................................................................................................57
Boxes,Tables and Map
Box 1: BANG Goes Scientific Disciplines: Comerging Nanoscale Technologies..............................................5
Map: Commercial DNA Synthesis Companies.....................................................................................................8
Box 2: Life is cheap - and fast.............................................................................................................................10
Box 3: DNA Computing: Nature’s PowerBook..................................................................................................18
Box 4: NSABB: Scientific Advice on LIow to Throw Out the Baby with the Batli Water.................................26
Table 1: A Sample of Recent Synthetic Biology Patents....................................................................................35
Table 2: Companies with Synthetic Biology Activities.......................................................................................45
Words that are underlined in this document are defined in the glossary.