Synthetic Biology - The Systematic Design and Construction of Novel Biological Systems and Cells for Useful Purposes
Event details
| Date | 16.02.2015 |
| Hour | 12:15 |
| Speaker | Prof. Paul Freemont, Imperial College, London (UK) |
| Location | |
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
BIOENGINEERING SEMINAR
Abstract:
Synthetic biology is primarily an application-focused field attempting to develop and apply a systematic engineering approach to the design and construction of new biological systems and cells at the genetic level. Here I will describe some of the foundational technology developments, including DNA assembly, whole genome engineering, part/device characterization and computational design/modeling tools that are now allowing the field to tackle some of the major challenges in bio-based manufacturing and personalized medicine. I will describe our recent developments in establishing an automated part characterisation platform for bacterial parts in vivo and in vitro as well as our DNA Synthesis and Construction Foundry at Imperial College. I will also describe our work on two recent applications in the area of biosensors, namely detecting infections in cystic fibrosis patients and infective larvae parasites in water.
Bio:
Professor Paul Freemont is co-director and co-founder of the EPSRC Centre for Synthetic Biology and Innovation (since 2009) and the National UK Innovation and Knowledge Centre for Synthetic Biology (SynbiCITE; since 2013) at Imperial College London. He was previously the Head of the Division of Molecular Biosciences (2005- 2012), Head of the Imperial College Centre for Structural Biology (2000-2005) having joined Imperial from Cancer Research UK London Research Institute. His research interests span from understanding the molecular mechanisms of human diseases to the development of synthetic biology platform technologies and biosensors and is the author of over 170 scientific publications (H-index 63 – Google scholar). He has appeared regularly on radio and television broadcasts on the subject of synthetic biology and has successfully co-supervised Imperial undergraduate iGEM teams since 2006.
Abstract:
Synthetic biology is primarily an application-focused field attempting to develop and apply a systematic engineering approach to the design and construction of new biological systems and cells at the genetic level. Here I will describe some of the foundational technology developments, including DNA assembly, whole genome engineering, part/device characterization and computational design/modeling tools that are now allowing the field to tackle some of the major challenges in bio-based manufacturing and personalized medicine. I will describe our recent developments in establishing an automated part characterisation platform for bacterial parts in vivo and in vitro as well as our DNA Synthesis and Construction Foundry at Imperial College. I will also describe our work on two recent applications in the area of biosensors, namely detecting infections in cystic fibrosis patients and infective larvae parasites in water.
Bio:
Professor Paul Freemont is co-director and co-founder of the EPSRC Centre for Synthetic Biology and Innovation (since 2009) and the National UK Innovation and Knowledge Centre for Synthetic Biology (SynbiCITE; since 2013) at Imperial College London. He was previously the Head of the Division of Molecular Biosciences (2005- 2012), Head of the Imperial College Centre for Structural Biology (2000-2005) having joined Imperial from Cancer Research UK London Research Institute. His research interests span from understanding the molecular mechanisms of human diseases to the development of synthetic biology platform technologies and biosensors and is the author of over 170 scientific publications (H-index 63 – Google scholar). He has appeared regularly on radio and television broadcasts on the subject of synthetic biology and has successfully co-supervised Imperial undergraduate iGEM teams since 2006.
Practical information
- Informed public
- Free