The Synthetic Biology mashup is a weekly review of articles and pieces of news related to synthetic biology. While we share most of this on our twitter feed, if you need to catch up on this week’s headlines just read on!
Highlights from SynbioBeta SF 2013
The biggest event this week was the Synthetic Biology Startup Conference SynBioBeta Last Friday (11-15-2013). Around 400 entrepreneurs, Innovators, investors gathered in San Francisco for this event. It was a day full of interesting discussions, presentations and meetings. If you missed it, here are some of the highlights as seen through twitter.
7 Myths about DIYbio by the Wilson Center
Security concerns have been raised over the emergence and expansion of Do-It-Yourself biology (DIYbio), amateur biologists working in community laboratories or, in minority, in their own houses. On Tuesday the Synthetic Biology Project at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars released a survey report suggesting most of these fears are unfounded and the field is far from the stage often portrayed in the media and by policy makers. The survey highlights what kind of the basic research is undertaken in these community labs, and most importantly the educational and innovation aspect of it, which is often not mentioned. The report is available here, and you can read more about this in Vice and the New Scientist.
Art Project on Bacterial Carpet that Cleans your Feet and Detects Toxins
Tashia Tucker explores in her latest project the applications synthetic biology could have on interior design, through the design of adaptive living environments. The project specifically explores floors embedded with synthetic bacteria that could clean your feet and eat possible spillage in the kitchen. She devised a colour-changing scheme in case of toxin detection and through this Art-Science project questions our relationship with the living.
Intrexon announced the appointment of Ms. Dana Di Ferdinando as Vice President of Business Development for Europe and Asia and Dr. Peter Seufer-Wasserthal as Chief Information Officer. An interesting move by Intrexon to develop its presence in the European and Asian markets, specifically in the Food, Health, Energy and Environment sectors and to fast-track the development of its proprietary synthetic biology platform.
This week two more project partners to the Synergene Consortium, part of the European Commission’s 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development were announced: the University of Bristol in the UK, and the Synthetic Biology Project of the Woodrow Wilson International Center. They join 26 other groups European groups and one Canadian group, in an effort of the European Union to associate participants from various fields and countries in order to develop a platform for knowledge exchange and responsible governance schemes for synthetic biology. The initiative will be managed by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany. Public awareness has been an important concern in synthetic biology, and this new initiative could help shape the landscape for a better understanding of the field.
That’s it for this week’s Synthetic Biology Mashup! A suggestion or a question? Shoot us an email.
