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

合成生物学是一门将工程原理应用于生物学的新兴科学领域。从本质上讲，合成生物学背后的主要概念是设计和构建新的部件和设备，利用生物学知识，制造具有自然界中没有的特征的新生物系统，以及为更有用的目的重新设计或重新设计现有的生物系统。因此，要在这个新领域取得成功，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。该提案要求拨款建立一个由来自工程、生命科学、伦理学、法学、社会学和生物安全领域的世界级英国和国际研究人员组成的网络。其目的是发展和产生想法，以解决围绕特定科学问题的关键挑战和可能性，即细胞“胶”的生产。这种“胶水”可以让细胞相互附着，并附着在表面上，在制造人体组织和皮肤等方面非常有用。该网络将探索复制和修改自然产生“胶水”的方式的可能性，通过设计使用生物工具的工程解决方案来改进过程。这三年计划的活动包括研讨会和讲习班，来自工程、生命科学、伦理、法律、社会和生物安全领域的人们聚集在一起，在一个小组和“速配”的环境中分享他们的知识，共同发展新的想法。会议伙伴系统（例如，在工程会议上生物学家跟随工程师，反之亦然）也计划帮助促进对彼此学科的更深入了解。我们还将邀请访客来谢菲尔德与网络成员交流。在这个网络中开始探讨的科学和社会问题也将在一个与公众开放的论坛上讨论。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，以解决一个以人类健康和医学为重点的合成生物学中具有挑战性的项目。这个研究人员网络还将能够为合成生物领域的突破带来的新技术和新材料做出贡献，这些新技术和材料正在从第三世界国家的廉价抗疟疾药物到氢等不产生温室气体的生物燃料等各种领域得到开发。

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.