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DIY SynBio: A New Geography of Research
Rees Kassen
Past Co-Chair, Global Young Academy Professor & University Research Chair, University of Ottawa, Canada
kassenlab.weebly.com @ReesKassen
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What is synthetic biology?
StartMake a
compound
Glow green
ABR Stop
The ‘BioBrick’ concept http://souterre.com/biobricks/
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Who is doing SynBio?
Andrew Pelling http://www.pellinglab.net/
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Who is doing SynBio? Based on a survey by Grushkin, Kuiken, Millet (2013) through the Woodrow
Wilson Centre’s Synthetic Biology Project
• Typically < 45 years
• Lack extensive professional (ie - Masters or higher) research training
• Innovative, entrepreneurial, committed to information-sharing & peer-to-peer education
• Mostly work in shared labs/collaborative spaces outside of academia, industry, or government; some work at home
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The promise of synthetic biology is not just what can be produced
but by whom and where
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The major challenge for science advice:
Identify leaders and experts working outside of the ‘normal’ academic community and
institutions for research
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Some suggestions • Engage the community via major DIY competitions (eg -
iGEM, BIOMOD, CAGEN)
• Establish links to SynBio workspace hubs (eg - Montreal’s http://brico.bio, Sydney’s http://foundry.bio/)
• Support co-development of standards & tools
• Ensure we can track who is buying what from where
• Consider modifying the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to include DNA ‘devices’ as well organisms