SynbiCITE - Innovation and Knowledge Centre in Synthetic Biology - Collaborative Programme - Tranche 1

合成生物学是一个新的和令人兴奋的研究领域，汇集了生物科学家和工程师，旨在开发新的方法来构建和改变生物系统和细胞的特定应用。生物细胞可以执行由DNA编码的一组指令驱动的大量活动。这种DNA构成了细胞基因组，基因组作为不同类型细胞的蓝图，由四种互补的化学构建模块组成，称为核苷酸（G，C，A和T），它们以序列连接在一起。DNA的美妙之处在于，这些构建模块可以特异性地配对（G-C和A-T），因此DNA模板可以很容易地复制和复制。DNA中编码的指令被专门翻译成一系列称为蛋白质的大分子。蛋白质可以被认为是细胞的分子引擎，执行生命所必需的所有功能，使细胞能够生存，分裂和生长。在过去的20年里，我们“阅读”DNA代码的能力的进步已经导致了地球上几乎所有生物（包括人类）的完整基因组序列或“指令集”。DNA化学合成的最新进展，使我们有能力“写”或合成DNA。因此，合成生物学旨在提供一个工程框架，允许研究人员设计和编写针对特定应用的DNA，以便这些新的合成DNA序列可以放置在简单的细胞中，以执行特定的人类定义的功能。目前的一个首要目标是开发一系列合成生物学的基础方法，例如组装复杂的DNA组件，详细描述指令部分，以及对更复杂的DNA设计进行计算机建模，以便这些方法可以应用于不同的应用。合成生物学的一个总体概念是开发标准化的DNA组件，这些组件可以用于工程“设计，构建和测试”周期，以创建新的生物系统和细胞，这些系统和细胞显示出定义和可预测的功能。许多研究人员，政策制定者和国家政府预计合成生物学将在不同的工业部门为社会提供一系列好处，包括人类健康;农业和粮食生产;环境保护和补救;生物能源和化学。为了加速合成生物学技术向新应用的转化，我们建议建立一个国家合成生物学创新和知识中心，其主要目标有三个：（1）作为一个工业翻译引擎，将大学和工业界的合成生物学研究转化为工业流程和产品（2）成为支持英国中小型公司（包括合成生物学初创企业）的有效工具（3）积极与公众和其他利益相关者进行公开对话，重点关注合成生物学技术的风险和益处。该计划旨在使英国成为将学术合成生物学研究转化为新产品和新工艺的世界领导者之一，但更重要的是在“负责任创新”的框架下，在实施这些应用之前，甚至在进入市场之前，都要考虑特定应用的公共价值和潜在风险。这种方法将在英国建立新的可持续合成生物学产业，允许其他非英国公司在英国投资，并培养合成生物学方面的熟练劳动力，所有这些最终都将带来新的经济增长。

Synthetic biology is a new and exciting research field that brings together biological scientists and engineers with the aim of developing new ways to build and alter biological systems and cells for specific applications. Biological cells can perform a vast array of activities driven by a set of instructions, which are encoded by DNA. This DNA makes up the cells genome, which acts as a blueprint for different types of cells and is composed of four complementary chemical building blocks called nucleotides (G, C, A and T) linked together in a sequence. The beauty of DNA is that these building blocks pair up specifically (G-C and A-T) thus the DNA template can be easily copied and replicated. The instructions encoded in DNA are translated specifically into an array of large molecules called proteins. Proteins can be considered the as the molecular engines of cells performing all the necessary functions for life enabling cells to live, divide and grow. Over the last 20 years advances in our ability to 'read' the DNA code has resulted in the complete genome sequences or "instruction sets" for nearly every living being on planet Earth including humans. More recent advances in the chemical synthesis of DNA, has resulted in our ability to 'write' or make synthetic DNA. Synthetic biology therefore aims to provide an engineering framework that allows researchers to design and write DNA tailored to specific applications such that these new synthetic DNA sequences can be placed in simple cells to perform specific human defined functions. One overarching aim at present is to develop a series of foundational methods in synthetic biology such as assembling complex DNA components, characterising the instruction parts in detail and computer modelling of more complex DNA designs such that these can be applied to different applications. One overarching concept for synthetic biology is the development of standardised DNA components that can used in an engineering 'design, build and test' cycle to create new biological systems and cells that display defined and predictable functions.Many researchers, policy makes and national governments anticipate that synthetic biology will provide a range of benefits to society in different industrial sectors including human health; agriculture and food production; environmental protection and remediation; bioenergy and chemical. To accelerate the translation of synthetic biology technology to new applications we propose to establish a national UK Innovation and Knowledge Centre in synthetic biology with three main objectives:(1) To act as an industrial translation engine which translates university and industry based research in synthetic biology into industrial process and products(2) To be an effective vehicle for the support of small to medium sized UK companies including Start-ups in synthetic biology(3) To actively engage in open dialogue with the public and other stakeholders focusing on the risks and benefits of synthetic biology technologiesThe IKC aims to place the UK as one of the World's leaders in translating academic synthetic biology research into new products and process but more importantly under the framework of 'Responsible Innovation' where the public worth and potential risks of specific applications are considered before such applications are implemented or even reach the market. Such an approach will establish new sustainable synthetic biology industries in the UK, allow other non-UK companies to invest in the UK and develop a skilled workforce in synthetic biology all of which will ultimately lead to new economic growth