Synthetic Biology Engineering Research Center (SynBERC)

合成生物学工程研究中心（SynBERC）

• 批准号: 0540879
• 负责人: Jay Keasling
• 金额: $ 1596.66万
• 依托单位: University of California-Berkeley
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Cooperative Agreement
• 财政年份: 2006
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2006-07-01 至 2016-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0540879&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Synthetic; Biology; Engineering; Research; Center

Project SummarySynthetic biology is the design and construction of new biological entities such as enzymes, genetic circuits, and cells or the redesign of existing biological systems. Synthetic biology builds on advances in molecular, cell, and systems biology and seeks to transform biology in the same way that synthesis transformed chemistry and integrated circuit design transformed computing. Just as engineers now design integrated circuits based on known physical properties of materials and then fabricate functioning circuits and entire processors (with relatively high reliability), synthetic biologists will soon design and fabricate biological entities to accomplish a particular task. To make this happen, biological materials properties (gene sequences, protein properties, natural genetic circuit design) must be formulated into a set of design rules that can then be used to engineer new biological entities.The Synthetic Biology Engineering Research Center (SynBERC) will lay the foundation for synthetic biology. The research program will develop the foundational understanding and technologies to build biological components and assemble them into an integrated system to accomplish a particular task. The Center's specific aims are 1) to develop a conceptual framework for designing small biological components (parts) that can be assembled into devices that will perform a well-characterized function under specified conditions, 2) to develop a small number of chasses (stable, robust bacterial hosts with known responses) to host the engineered devices and to assemble several devices to accomplish a larger vision or goal, 3) to develop a set of standards for the interactions of the parts and devices so that the devices can be built more readily and reproducibly, 4) to offer the parts, devices, and chasses as open source to other researchers and companies and 5) understand the biological and societal risks associated with synthetic biology and integrate these into the design process. These objectives will be achieved through four thrust areas in 1) Parts and Part Composition, 2) Devices and Device Composition, 3) Chassis Design, Construction, and Characterization, and 4) Societal Issues in Synthetic Biology. Two testbed applications will drive development of the thrusts. The resulting parts, devices, and chasses will be managed through a distributed web of Registries of Standard Biological Parts.SynBERC will offer a complementary education program that will 1) educate a new cadre of biological engineers capable of designing biological components, just as electrical engineers design and build integrated circuits, 2) educate the general public about the benefits and possible risks of synthetic biology, 3) educate public policy students and policy-makers about the benefits and real threats of synthetic biology, and 4) educate K-12 students about the opportunities offered by careers in science, engineering, and synthetic biology. Coupled with a strong outreach program to minority institutions and local community colleges and high schools, SynBERC will increase the participation of minority students in this emerging area and encourage high-school students to enter this exciting new area of engineering. The new discipline, synthetic biology, will transform the biotechnology, high-technology, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries as well as suppliers of genetic tools and custom DNA synthesis companies. SynBERC will partner with key companies in these sectors to invite applications for and advice on our research program, to provide internships for undergraduate and graduate students, to speed technology transfer, and to develop SynBERC funding.Intellectual merit. Synthetic Biology will transform the field of biology into an engineering discipline by introducing into biology the concepts developed in other fields of engineering: ready access to off-the-shelf parts and devices with standard connections; a substrate onto which one can assemble the parts and devices and a power supply for the devices; standards for the basic components to enable their ready integration into a larger functional system; and open-source availability of parts, devices, and chasses. These developments will make the engineering of biology easier and more predictable. SynBERC brings together many of the pioneers (biologists and engineers from world-class institutions) of synthetic biology to work together to lay the foundation for this nascent field.Broader impacts. Synthetic biology (catalyzed by SynBERC) will transform the biotechnology, high-technology, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries, as well as suppliers of genetic tools and custom DNA synthesis companies. SynBERC will educate a new cadre of synthetic biologists and biological engineers capable of designing biological parts and useful biological systems. Finally, SynBERC's education program will provide general information on synthetic biology for the general public, in-depth offerings for public policy professionals, and motivational information on opportunities in higher education for K-12 students.

合成生物学是设计和构建新的生物实体，如酶、遗传回路和细胞，或重新设计现有的生物系统。合成生物学建立在分子生物学、细胞生物学和系统生物学的进步基础上，并寻求以合成改变化学和集成电路设计改变计算的同样方式改变生物学。就像工程师现在根据已知的材料物理特性设计集成电路，然后制造功能电路和整个处理器（具有相对较高的可靠性）一样，合成生物学家很快就会设计和制造生物实体来完成特定的任务。为了实现这一目标，生物材料的特性（基因序列、蛋白质特性、自然遗传电路设计）必须形成一套设计规则，然后用于设计新的生物实体。合成生物学工程研究中心（SynBERC）将为合成生物学奠定基础。该研究计划将发展基础的理解和技术，以构建生物组件，并将它们组装成一个集成系统来完成特定的任务。该中心的具体目标是：1)开发设计小型生物部件（部件）的概念框架，这些部件可以组装成设备，在特定条件下执行良好的特征功能；2)开发少量的底盘（具有已知反应的稳定、健壮的细菌宿主）来承载工程设备，并组装多个设备以实现更大的愿景或目标。3)为部件和设备的相互作用制定一套标准，以便设备可以更容易和可复制地构建；4)将部件、设备和底盘作为开源提供给其他研究人员和公司；5)了解与合成生物学相关的生物和社会风险，并将这些风险整合到设计过程中。这些目标将通过以下四个重点领域实现：1)部件和部件组成，2)器件和器件组成，3)底盘设计，构造和表征，以及4)合成生物学中的社会问题。两个试验台应用程序将推动推力的开发。产生的部件、设备和底盘将通过标准生物部件注册的分布式网络进行管理。SynBERC将提供一个补充教育项目，1)培养能够设计生物部件的新一代生物工程师骨干，就像电气工程师设计和构建集成电路一样；2)教育公众关于合成生物学的好处和可能的风险；3)教育公共政策专业的学生和政策制定者关于合成生物学的好处和真正的威胁。4)教育K-12的学生科学、工程和合成生物学等职业提供的机会。再加上针对少数族裔机构、当地社区学院和高中的强有力的外展计划，SynBERC将增加少数族裔学生在这一新兴领域的参与度，并鼓励高中生进入这一令人兴奋的新工程领域。合成生物学这一新学科将改变生物技术、高科技、制药和化学工业，以及基因工具供应商和定制DNA合成公司。SynBERC将与这些领域的主要公司合作，邀请申请和建议我们的研究项目，为本科生和研究生提供实习机会，加快技术转让，并发展SynBERC资金。知识价值。通过将其他工程领域的概念引入生物学，合成生物学将把生物学领域转变为一门工程学科：随时可以获得具有标准连接的现成部件和设备；可在其上组装所述部件和器件以及用于所述器件的电源的基板；基本组件的标准，使其能够随时集成到更大的功能系统中；以及部件、设备和部件的开源可用性。这些发展将使生物工程更容易，更可预测。SynBERC汇集了许多合成生物学的先驱（来自世界级机构的生物学家和工程师），共同努力为这个新兴领域奠定基础。更广泛的影响。合成生物学（由SynBERC催化）将改变生物技术、高科技、制药和化学工业，以及遗传工具供应商和定制DNA合成公司。SynBERC将培养有能力设计生物部件和有用生物系统的合成生物学家和生物工程师的新骨干。最后，SynBERC的教育计划将为公众提供合成生物学的一般信息，为公共政策专业人士提供深入的产品，并为K-12学生提供高等教育机会的激励信息。