Synthetic Biology at Imperial College
Synthetic biology is an application-driven field attempting to apply fundamental principles of engineering to the redesign of biological systems, to produce valuable and novel biological functions. The driving force behind the field is the desire to develop robust biological systems rapidly and efficiently. Potential applications of synthetic biology are numerous and range from the production of bio-fuel to the synthesis of biomaterials.
The engineering framework that the lab has adopted is shown in Figure 1. The idea is that through multiple reiterations of this cycle, a biological system can be refined. In addition to application-driven projects, the lab is interested in the expansion of foundational technologies to enhance the workflow through the cycle, for example the expansion of software for the design and modelling of biological systems.
Figure 1: Engineering framework behind synthetic biology.
Since 2006 the lab has helped to assist and advice undergraduate students to develop a synthetic biology-based project for the iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine, see sidebar) competition. This competition is based around mixed disciplines undergraduate students collaborating in the design of a synthetic biology project, the end product of which they present at the iGEM jamboree at MIT.
The lab is part of a collaborative effort concentrated in the newly established Centre for Synthetic Biology and Innovation at the Imperial College Institute of Systems and Synthetic Biology.