MATEs - Microbial Applications to Tissue Engineering: An Exemplar of Synthetic Biology

合成生物学是将工程原理应用于生物学的新兴科学领域。本质上，合成生物学背后的主要概念是利用生物学知识设计和建造新的部件和装置，以制造具有自然界中没有的特征的新的生物系统，以及重新设计或重新设计现有的生物系统以用于更有用的目的。因此，要在这一新领域取得成功，需要工程师和科学家在道德、社会和法律框架内的凝聚力和合作。该提案要求提供资金，以建立一个世界级的英国和国际研究人员网络，这些研究人员来自工程、生命科学、伦理学、法律、社会学和生物安全。其目的是开发和产生想法，以解决围绕特定科学问题的关键挑战和可能性，即生产细胞“胶”。这种“胶水”可以让细胞互相黏附，也可以黏附在表面上，在制造人体组织和皮肤等方面也很有用。这个网络将探索通过使用生物工具设计工程解决方案来复制和修改大自然生产“胶水”的方式的可能性，以改进这一过程。计划在这三年内开展的活动包括研讨会和研讨会，来自工程学、生命科学、伦理学、法律、社会和生物安全领域的人们聚集在一起，在一个集体和“快速约会”的环境中分享他们的知识并共同发展新的想法。还计划建立一个会议伙伴系统(例如，生物学家在工程会议上跟踪工程师，反之亦然)，以帮助促进对彼此学科的更深层次理解。我们还将邀请参观者来到谢菲尔德，并与网络成员进行交流。在这个网络中开始探索的科学和社会问题也将在一个公开论坛上与公众讨论。因此，在三年内，这个研究人员网络将拥有必要的技能和公众参与/咨询，以解决合成生物学中专注于人类健康和医学的具有挑战性的项目。研究人员网络还将能够为合成生物领域的突破所产生的新技术和材料做出贡献，这些领域正在为第三世界国家开发廉价的抗疟疾药物，以及非温室气体生产的生物燃料，如氢。

Synthetic biology is a new emerging field of science which applies engineering principles to biology. In essence, the main concept behind synthetic biology is to design and construct new parts and devices, using biological knowledge, to make new biological systems with features not found in nature, as well as re-designing or re-engineering existing biological systems for more useful purposes. Therefore, to be successful in this new area requires cohesion and collaboration from engineers and scientists within an ethical, social and legal framework. This proposal requests funds to set up a network of world-class UK and international researchers from engineering, life sciences, ethics, law, sociology and biosecurity. The aim is to develop and generate ideas to address the key challenges and possibilities surrounding a specific scientific problem, i.e. the production of a cellular 'glue'. This 'glue' allows cells to attach to each other and to surfaces, and is useful, among other things, for making human tissue and skin. This network will explore the possibilities of reproducing and modifying the way nature produces the 'glue' to improve the process by designing an engineering solution using biological tools. Activities planned within this three year period include seminars and workshops where people from within engineering, the life sciences, ethics, legal, social and biosecurity fields come together to share their knowledge and develop new ideas jointly in a group and in a 'speed dating' environment. A conference buddy system (e.g. a biologist shadows an engineer at an engineering conference and vice versa) is also planned to help promote a deeper appreciation of each other's discipline. We will also extend invitations for visitors to come to Sheffield and exchange with members of the network. Scientific as well as social issues beginning explored in this network will also be discussed in an open forum with the general public. Hence, within three years, this network of researchers will have the necessary skills and public engagement/consultation to tackle a challenging project in synthetic biology focussed on human health and medicine. The network of researchers will also be able to contribute to new technologies and materials derived from breakthroughs in the synbio field which are being developed in areas as diverse as cheap anti-malarial drugs for 3rd world countries and non-greenhouse producing biofuels such as hydrogen.