Artificial messenger RNA silencing using clustered, regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs) to facilitate the assembly of highly complex synthetic genetic control networks

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Synthetic biology is the science of assembling artificial genetic control pathways inside cells, with the ultimate goal of creating designer cells that are able to make decisions on their own based on inputs from the environment around them. So far, many artificial components have been invented and implemented; simple switches, timers, counters and logic gates are among these. However, combining these components into useful cellular systems has proven more difficult. This is primarily because so many of these simple artificial components make use of the same signaling molecules to regulate their inputs. Since cells contain a well-stirred mixture of different molecules, this means that there is nothing to prevent the input signals from one component from interfering with those of another. This proposal presents a new, highly specific signal silencing mechanism as a solution to this problem. Through the use of molecules known as silencing RNAs, it is possible to artificially reduce the strength of signals sent inside a cell with great specificity. Furthermore, with some modifications, the silencing RNA system may be used to increase specific outputs as well as decrease them. It is therefore a generally applicable technique that will allow for the assembly of individual components into reliable cellular decision-making programs, allowing designed cells to intelligently sense their environments and make informed decisions. The applications of such cells, and their benefits, are evident and numerous. It may become possible, for example, to program bacteria to recognize and attack certain types of cancerous tissues, killing tumours while leaving patients unharmed. Other concepts that have been proposed include schemes for increasing the efficiency of biofuel production, modifying photosynthetic bacteria to generate hydrogen for use in fuel cells, and endowing bacteria with the ability to cheaply manufacture useful pharmaceutical agents, among many others.