Librería Portfolio

Today's synthetic biologists are in the early stages of engineering living cells to help treat diseases, sense toxic compounds in the environment, and produce valuable drugs. With this manual, you can be part of it. Based on the BioBuilder curriculum, this valuable book provides open-access, modular, hands-on lessons in synthetic biology for secondary and post-secondary classrooms and laboratories. It also serves as an introduction to the field for science and engineering enthusiasts.

Developed at MIT in collaboration with award-winning high school teachers, BioBuilder teaches the foundational ideas of the emerging synthetic biology field, as well as key aspects of biological engineering that researchers are exploring in labs throughout the world. These lessons will empower teachers and students to explore and be part of solving persistent real-world challenges.



Table of contents

Preface
Who Should Read This Book
Why We Wrote This Book
A Word on Synthetic Biology Today
Navigating This Book
Online Resources
Safari® Books Online
How to Contact Us
Acknowledgments
1. Fundamentals of Synthetic Biology
What Is Synthetic Biology?
Why Synthetic Biology?
Synthetic Biology in Context
Introduction to Engineering and Design
"Traditionalö Engineering Solutions
Engineering Toolkits
The Synthetic Biology Toolkit
The Molecular Biology Toolkit
The Toolkit Expanded for Synthetic Biology
Wrap-Up
Additional Reading and Resources
2. Fundamentals of Biodesign
Illustrating a Top-Down Design Approach
From Planning Vacations to Biodesign
From Design to Implementation
Biodesign Process Overview
Identify an Area and Challenge
Brainstorm Solutions to the Challenge
Decide on an Approach
Specify Your System with Devices, Parts, and DNA
What's Next?
Additional Reading and Resources
3. Fundamentals of DNA Engineering
Framing the Discussion
Standardization of Parts and Measurements
What Is Standardization?
Competing Standards
How Standards Are Established
DNA Engineering in Practice
DNA Assembly Basics
Applying the Basics of DNA Assembly
What's Next?
Additional Reading and Resources
4. Fundamentals of Bioethics
What Makes "Good Workö?
Regulating for Ethical Research
Scientific Advances Raise Ethical Questions
Public Response
Three Synthetic Biology Case Studies
Grow-Your-Own Glowing Plants
"Creatingö Genomes
Biosynthetic Drugs and the Economics of Public Benefit
Group Bioethics Activities
Bioethics Involves a Decision-Making Process
Stakeholder Activity
Additional Reading and Resources
5. Introduction to the BioBuilder Labs
Biological Engineering with Synthetic Biology's Toolkit
6. Eau That Smell
Inspiration from the Eau d'coli iGEM Project
Identify a Challenge
Brainstorm Solutions
System-Level Design
Device-Level Design
System-Level Design, Revised
Device-Level Design, Revised
Parts-Level Design
Final Device and System-Level Edits
Additional Reading and Resources
Eau That Smell Lab
Design Choices
Experimental Question
Getting Started
Lab Protocol
7. iTune Device
Modularity
Insulation
Principles of Measurement
What's Normally Measured
Making and Reporting Measurements for Synthetic Biology
Foundational Concepts for the iTune Device Lab
Promoters and RBSs
The Lac Operon
Additional Reading and Resources
iTune Device Lab
Design Choices
Experimental Question
Getting Started
Lab Protocol
8. Picture This
Introduction to Modeling
Computational Modeling
Physical Modeling
Inspiration from the "Coliroidö iGEM Project
Device-Level Design
Parts-Level Design
Additional Reading and Resources
Picture This Lab
Design Choices
Bacterial Photographs
TinkerCell Modeling
Electronic Circuit Modeling
9. What a Colorful World
Introduction to Chassis
Utility, and How to Engineer It
Safety, and How to Engineer It
Background on the E. chromi iGEM Project
About Their Devices
Parts and Devices
Additional Reading and Resources
What a Colorful World Lab
Design Choices
Experimental Question
Getting Started
Lab Protocol
10. Golden Bread
Engineering Reliability
Scheduled Maintenance
Redundancy
Building Robust Systems
Background on the "VitaYeastö iGEM Project
Motivation
Parts-Level and Device-Level Design
Additional Reading and Resources
Golden Bread Lab
Design Choices
Experimental Question
Getting Started
Lab Protocol
Transforming VitaYeast
A. Laboratory Reagents and Materials
Equipment
Reagent Preparation and Storage
Solid and Liquid Media
Stock Solutions
Buffers
Miscellaneous
Glossary
Index