Systems and Control Theoretic Approaches to Engineer Robust

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Systems and Control Theoretic Approaches to Engineer Robust Systems and Control Theoretic Approaches to Engineer Robust Biological Systems by Yili Qian Submitted to the Department of Mechanical Engineering in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY September 2020 ○c Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2020. All rights reserved. Author................................................................ Department of Mechanical Engineering August 7, 2020 Certified by. Domitilla Del Vecchio Professor of Mechanical Engineering Thesis Supervisor Accepted by . Nicolas G. Hadjiconstantinou Chairman, Department Committee on Graduate Theses 2 Systems and Control Theoretic Approaches to Engineer Robust Biological Systems by Yili Qian Submitted to the Department of Mechanical Engineering on August 7, 2020, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Abstract Synthetic biology is an emerging field of research aimed to engineer biological systems by inserting programmed DNA molecules into living cells. These DNAs encode the production and subsequent interactions of biomolecules that allow the cells to have novel sensing, computing, and actuation capabilities. However, most success stories to date rely heavily on trial and error. This is mainly because genetic systems are context-dependent: the expression level of a synthetic gene often depends not only on its own regulatory inputs, but also on the expression of other supposedly unconnected genes. This lack of modularity leads to unexpected behaviors when multiple genetic subsystems are composed together, making it difficult to engineer complex systems that function predictably and robustly in practice. This thesis characterizes resource competition as a form of context dependence, and presents control theoretic approaches to engineer robust, context-independent gene networks. We first present a systems framework to model resource competition, which results in a hidden layer of unintended interactions among genetic subsystems. These unintended interactions lead to failure of the composed network in experi- ment. We then introduce a set of biomolecular controllers - designed to solve an output regulation problem in vivo - that can decouple a genetic subsystem’s output from its context. We describe challenges applying classical control theory to engineer such controllers due to the physical constraints in living cells, and then present novel theory-guided engineering solutions. Finally, we point to additional design consid- erations when regulating multiple subsystems using multiple controllers in a single cell. These works have the potential to enhance the robustness of future synthetic biological systems and to fully unleash their power to address pressing societal needs in environment, energy, and health. Thesis Supervisor: Domitilla Del Vecchio Title: Professor of Mechanical Engineering 3 4 Acknowledgments First and foremost, I am extremely grateful to my advisor, Prof. Domitilla Del Vecchio, for her relentless support over the past seven years. Her commitment to and enthusiasm for research is second to none. She is such a role model. I’d like to thank my thesis committee members, Profs. Harry Asada, Richard Braatz, and Eduardo Sontag for their feedback on my work. I enjoy working with Prof. Ron Weiss on a number of projects and I want to thank him for his guidance. My deep appreciation goes to my friends and colleagues in the Del Vecchio lab. Many breakthroughs in my research were inspired by conversations with you. I espe- cially want to thank Hsin-Ho and Ross for their patience in teaching me cell culture and cloning, and answering my naïve biology questions. I cannot imagine finishing this thesis without you. I am deeply indebted to Ted, for all the theoretical inspi- rations I gained through our discussions. I want to thank José and Abdullah for bringing my attention to the difficult research questions that lingered in mymind for the last seven years. Andras, Cameron, Carlos, Fiona, Francesca, Heejin, M.Ali., Max, M.N., Narmada, Nithin, Penny, Rushina, Shaoshuai, Simone, and Ukjin, it is my great fortune to be a colleague with you and thank you for all the support, fun, and intellectual stimulations. My undergraduate mentees Hussein and Anh have pro- vided me many inspirations, and I enjoy working with them. I want to thank Joe for providing all the administrative supports behind the curtain. I am thankful for my friends at MIT and in the greater Boston area, especially my long-time roommates Rujian, Fangchang, and Qingkai, for all the joyful and unforgettable moments. I am heartfully indebted to my dear parents, Wei Qian and Lei Zhou. They have provided me endless support and encouragement over the years, and made many sacrifices for me to finish this thesis. I love you and I missyou. The work reported in this thesis was supported in part by AFOSR grant FA9550- 14-1-0060 and FA9550-12-1-0129, ONR award N000141310074, NSF-CMMI award 1727189, and NIH NIGMS grant P50 GMO98792. 5 6 Contents 1 Introduction 25 1.1 Overview of synthetic biology . 25 1.2 Robustness problems in synthetic biology . 29 1.3 Statement of contributions . 30 1.4 Thesis organization . 32 2 Characterization of unintended interactions in genetic circuits 35 2.1 Introduction . 35 2.2 General modeling framework . 37 2.3 Effective interaction graphs . 41 2.4 Experiment: activation cascade . 48 2.4.1 Genetic circuit . 48 2.4.2 Model guided design to mitigate unintended interactions . 50 2.5 Summary . 52 3 Robustness of genetic subsystems to disturbances 53 3.1 Introduction . 53 3.2 Robustness to constant disturbances . 55 3.2.1 Physical constraints arising from cell growth . 56 3.2.2 Quasi-integral control (QIC) for set-point regulation . 58 3.2.3 Type I and II QICs to regulate genetic subsystems . 63 3.2.4 Type I QIC realization: phosphorylation cycle . 69 3.2.5 Type II QIC realization: small RNA (sRNA) interference . 72 7 3.3 Robust tracking performance . 74 3.3.1 A singular singular perturbation (SSP) problem . 75 3.3.2 Model reduction of SSP systems . 77 3.3.3 QIC tracking performance . 88 3.4 Experiment: sRNA-mediated QIC . 90 3.4.1 Genetic circuit . 92 3.4.2 Model guided controller tuning for set-point regulation . 95 3.5 Summary . 101 4 Robustness of networked systems to unintended interactions 103 4.1 Introduction . 103 4.2 Motivating example . 106 4.3 Problem formulation . 110 4.4 Technical background: monotone systems . 112 4.5 Network disturbance decoupling with monotone subsystems . 115 4.6 Network disturbance decoupling with near-monotone subsystems . 122 4.7 Application to decentralized QIC-regulated genetic circuits . 128 4.8 Summary . 136 5 Conclusions and future work 139 5.1 Conclusions . 139 5.2 Extensions and future directions . 141 A Appendix for Chapter 2 145 A.1 Derivation of graphical rules . 145 B Appendix for Chapter 3 149 B.1 Modeling dilution in mass action kinetics . 149 B.2 Proof of Theorem 3.1 . 151 B.3 Counterexample: increasing only part of the controller reaction rates 154 B.4 Proof of Lemma 3.4 . 156 B.5 Analysis of phosphorylation-mediated type I QIC . 158 8 B.6 Analysis of sRNA-mediated type II QIC . 165 B.7 Additional simulations . 170 B.8 Simulation parameters . 172 B.9 Experimental methods . 173 C Appendix for Chapter 4 175 C.1 Proof of Lemma 4.3 . 175 C.2 Proof of Lemma 4.4 . 179 C.3 Proof of Lemma 4.5 . 180 C.4 Small-gain theorem for convergent-input-convergent-output system . 182 C.5 Disturbance attenuation of feedback-regulated subsystems . 184 C.6 Lipschitz properties of subsystem characteristics . 186 9 10 List of Figures 1-1 Architecture of synthetic biology systems. Genetic parts (a) can be assembled to create genetic subsystems (b) that have inputs and outputs. Interconnection of genetic subsystems creates intracellular systems (e.g., ge- netic circuits) that has sensing, computing, and actuation capabilities. Mul- tiple populations of cells with different encoded programs can create complex synthetic ecology. The focus of this thesis is to provide systems and control theoretic underpinnings to design robust intracellular system from genetic subsystems. ................................ 26 11 1-2 Applications of synthetic biology. (a) A cell type classifier circuit used for cancer diagnostic ex vivo [172]. A reference profile of miRNAs that are expressed in cancer cells is used to construct a genetic logic circuit realized through RNA interactions. When transfected into a cancer cell, the output of the logic circuit triggers expression of a fluorescence protein. (b) Bacteria can be engineered to be smart drug delivery vehicles [44]. A consortium of engineered bacteria is delivered to the target tumor site. Each cell contains a genetic clock, a cell lysis gene, a therapeutic protein production gene and a cell-cell communication module. The synchronized clocks control cell lysis to release the therapeutic proteins periodically. (c) Synthetic genetic circuits increase the specificity and safety of cancer immunotherapy [30]. Receptors can be engineered to trigger T cell activity when cancer cells are detected. Feedback loops can be used to regulate T cell activity to avoid side effects. (d) A synthetic lineage control circuit. By regulating the expression of three transcription factors according to a temporal pattern, hIPSCs can be repro- grammed into insulin-secreting beta-like cell for treating diabetes [136]. 27 1-3 Thesis organization. ........................... 33 2-1 Setup of a genetic circuit with limited resources. (a) Schematic of gene expression process in a subsystem i. (b) In a genetic circuit, all sub- systems are connected through prescribed interactions (i.e., transcriptional regulation) and are competing for a conserved amount of resources in the host cell. .................................. 38 2-2 Rules to draw effective interactions in any genetic circuit with resource limitation. Black solid edges represent prescribed regulatory interactions, red dashed edges represent unintended interactions due to re- source limitation. If a black and a red edge have the same head and tail, we indicate their combined effects with a gray edge.
Recommended publications
  • TRANSCRIPT Applications
    Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues TRANSCRIPT Applications J. Craig Venter, Ph.D. Founder and President, J. Craig Venter Institute George Church, Ph.D. Professor of Genetics, Harvard Medical School Kristala L. J. Prather, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Massachu- setts Institute of Technology Meeting 1, Session 2 July 8, 2010 Washington, D.C. Jim Wagner: Could we have our speakers come to the table. And if others could take their chairs, we’ll get under way. Thank you. Commission members, we need you as well, actually. I see them filter- ing up. I saw Nita out there. And there’s Bonnie in the back of the room. So that there is ample time for our speakers to present and for us to ask questions, let’s do get under way. Really, again, appreciate this morning’s conversation and the presenta- tions, helping us to — wow. Helping us to define what is and is not synthetic biology and to understand a little bit more about some of the science involved. This particular session, we are going to focus and we have asked our experts to focus more on applications. We’ll try to use a similar format. Have our speakers present for a brief period. You have the timer in front of you. Make sure after all of you have pre- sented the commission has time to ask questions. And then we’ll try to throw it open — not try to – we will, certainly, throw it open to the public for other questions they may have.
    [Show full text]
  • Driving Diffusion of Scientific Innovation
    Driving Diffusion of Scientific Innovation - The Role of Institutional Entrepreneurship and Open Science in Synthetic Biology Vom Promotionsausschuss der Technischen Universit¨at Hamburg-Harburg zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades Doktor der Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften (Dr. rer. pol.) genehmigte Dissertation von Giulio Barth aus M¨unster 2018 Advisors: Prof. Dr. C. Ihl, Prof. Dr. M. G. M¨ohrle Institute of Entrepreneurship, TUHH i Gutachter: Prof. Dr. C. Ihl Prof. Dr. M. G. Mohrle¨ Vorsitz: Prof. Dr. C. Luthje¨ Tag der mundlichen¨ Prufung:¨ 14. September 2018 ”Our victory: inevitable; our timing: uncertain.” (Drew Endy, Assistant Professor Stanford University) i Abstract Scientific innovations need to widely diffuse to fully exploit their potential. Prior research investigated levers on the diffusion of scientific innovation with particular interest on institutions, e.g., settings of property rights. As institutional theory lacks in explaining emergence and shaping of institu- tions, the institutional entrepreneur approach faces these limitations. Key actors combine logics from multiple fields and convince their social context of their ideas to legitimate the creation of new institutions and shape an emerging field. This thesis validates theories on institutional entrepreneurs and investigates the end-to process from diffusing a logic to the impact of an established insti- tution on scientific innovations in context of the emerging synthetic biology. The field is expected to introduce the 5th revolution and characterized by the central logic of making biology an engineering discipline. In chapter 4 theories on institutional entrepreneurs driving diffusion of in- stitutional logics to shape an emerging field are validated. To measure the social influence mechanisms, the heterogeneous diffusion model is adapted to the institutional logic.
    [Show full text]
  • CBD/DSI/AHTEG/2018/1/3 12 January 2018
    CBD Distr. GENERAL CBD/SBSTTA/22/INF/3 CBD/DSI/AHTEG/2018/1/3 12 January 2018 ENGLISH ONLY AD HOC TECHNICAL EXPERT GROUP ON SUBSIDIARY BODY ON SCIENTIFIC, DIGITAL SEQUENCE INFORMATION ON TECHNICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL GENETIC RESOURCES ADVICE Montreal, Canada, 13-16 February 2018 Twenty-second meeting Item 3 of the provisional agenda** Montreal, Canada, 2-7 July 2018 Item 3 of the provisional agenda*** FACT-FINDING AND SCOPING STUDY ON DIGITAL SEQUENCE INFORMATION ON GENETIC RESOURCES IN THE CONTEXT OF THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY AND THE NAGOYA PROTOCOL Note by the Executive Secretary 1. In decision XIII/16, paragraph 3(b), the Executive Secretary was requested to commission a fact-finding and scoping study, subject to the availability of funds, to clarify terminology and concepts and to assess the extent and the terms and conditions of the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources in the context of the Convention and the Nagoya Protocol. 2. Accordingly, the Executive Secretary commissioned a research team led by Ms. Sarah Laird of People and Plants International and Ms. Rachel Wynberg of the University of Cape Town, to carry out this study. The study was undertaken with the generous financial support of Canada, the European Union and Switzerland. 3. A draft of the study was made available online for peer review from 8 November to 1 December 2017. 1 The comments received in response have been made available online.2 The research team revised the study in the light of the comments received and the final version is presented below in the form and language in which it was received by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
    [Show full text]
  • Synthetic Biology an Overview of the Debates
    SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY PROJECT / SYNBIO 3 SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY Ethical Issuesin SYNBIO 3/JUNE2009 An overview ofthedebates Contents Preface 3 Executive Summary 4 Who is doing what, where are they doing it and how is this current work funded? 6 How distinct is synthetic biology from other emerging areas of scientific and technological innovation? 9 Ethics: What harms and benefits are associated with synthetic biology? 12 The pro-actionary and pre-cautionary frameworks 18 N OVERVIEW OF THE DEBATES N OVERVIEW OF A Competing—and potentially complementary—views about non-physical harms (harms to well-being) 23 The most contested harms to well-being 25 Conclusion: Moving the debate forward 26 References 29 ETHICAL ISSUES IN SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY: ETHICAL ISSUES IN SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY: ii The opinions expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect views Sloan Foundation. Wilson International Center for Scholars or the Alfred P. of the Woodrow Ethical Issues in SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY An overview of the debates Erik Parens, Josephine Johnston, and Jacob Moses The Hastings Center, Garrison, New York SYNBIO 3 / JUNE 2009 2 ETHICAL ISSUES IN SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY: AN OVERVIEW OF THE DEBATES Preface Synthetic biology will allow scientists and where such topics are divided into two broad engineers to create biological systems categories: concerns about physical and non- that do not occur naturally as well as to physical harms. While physical harms often re-engineer existing biological systems to trigger debates about how to proceed among perform novel and beneficial tasks. This researchers, policymakers, and the public, emerging field presents a number of non-physical harms present more difficult opportunities to address ethical issues early conundrums.
    [Show full text]
  • Synthetic Biology in the United States a Brief History of an Emerging Innovation System
    Synthetic Biology in the United States A Brief History of an Emerging Innovation System David Rejeski Global Fellow Wilson Center March 2016 Acknowledgments: I was lucky. I had a front seat during the development of a new field — synthetic biology. Not being a scientist, I had not expected those in the field to open their arms to a foreigner with obvious leanings towards the often maligned and un-scientific field of public policy. But it happened. Dozens of people took the time to talk to me, in person or by phone, about their involvement in the field, their hopes, and their concerns. My special thanks to Paula Olsiewski of the Alfred P. Sloan foundation, who supported the Synthetic Biology Project, myself and my staff, at the Woodrow Wilson Center for eight years. Special thanks also to Drew Endy, who, like a magician pulling rabbits from a hat, seemed to have an endless library of important historical documents and photos he was willing to share. Tom Knight and Peter Carr reviewed early versions of the history section and provided valuable feedback. Thanks to my colleague at the International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis, Leena Ilmola, who integrated me into the proposal for the Finnish Academy, an opportunity I would have certainly missed. This story is my construction and I take responsibility for the interpretation, including any errors or failures of inclusion. Maybe we can make it better. Dave Rejeski Washington, DC The research leading to these results has received funding from the Strategic Research Council at the Academy of Finland under grant agreement no: 293446 - Platform Value Now: Value Capturing in the fast emerging platform ecosystems.
    [Show full text]
  • Can We Make Biology Easy to Engineer?
    FEATURE COMMENTARY Synthetic biology: Can we make biology easy to engineer? Drew Endy This is how I want to frame my remarks today: How do we make biology easy to engineer? How do we enable all of biotechnology to “come true”, not in some notional point in the future, but over a The following is an edited transcription of a plenary talk given by period of 10, 20, or 30 years? This is my starting point. Dr. Drew Endy at the BIO Pacific Rim Summit, Vancouver, British My thoughts on this resolve to two obvious things — we need more Columbia, Canada, 11 September 2008. people working on the problem, and we need better tools. As far as the people requirement goes: I’ve been working on this problem for a little while. One fun project I got caught up in was mak- ing a comic strip trying to explain to teenagers and others how one ’ll start by relating an anecdote from a friend who’s a young might begin to think about programming DNA. In that comic strip, you venture capitalist. He had sought out an old, successful partner have a young boy learning from his elder and who gets excited about at a firm near San Francisco, a fellow who had made a lot of doing something with a bacteria: finding some genetic material inside, I money by investing in biosynthesis companies. My young friend thinking about reprogramming it, trying to brainstorm an idea. asked for some advice, inquiring of the colleague how he decided Now, in this case, the young gentleman would like to make a what investments to make in biosynthesis and industrial biotechnol- bacterial balloon, some sort of self-assembling biofilm that goes off ogy.
    [Show full text]
  • Speaker Biographies
    SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES George W. Anderson, Jr., PhD, RBP Chair of the Institutional Biosafety Committee at Lawrence Livermore National Labs George W. Anderson, Jr. received his BS and MS degrees in biology from the Florida Institute of Technology and his doctorate in immunology from the Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Anderson’s research experience includes work with rickettsia, hemorrhagic fever viruses and bacterial agents in high containment laboratories. Dr. Anderson’s research interests include animal models for infectious diseases, pathogenesis, and vaccine development and testing. Dr. Anderson was responsible for the set-up and commissioning of a Biosafety Level (BSL) 3/Animal Biosafety Level (ABSL) 3 laboratory in the United States that operated under the Good Laboratory Practices to meet Federal Drug Administration (FDA) requirements. Dr. Anderson has training and experience in Good Manufacturing Practices as well as Good Clinical Practices. Dr. Anderson has been an associate investigator on clinical protocols as well as the principal investigator on numerous animal protocols. Dr. Anderson has been engaged in biological safety assessments at research and production facilities in the former Soviet Union (FSU) as well as biological safety and laboratory training for BSL-2/BSL-3 laboratories in the FSU for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). This work also included responsible for the set-up and operation of a number of BSL-2 laboratories. Dr. Anderson participated in the laboratory oversight of Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) funded research projects at a number of high containment laboratories in Russia, which also included facility upgrades and training personnel to meet the US Animal Welfare regulations and US Department of Defense requirements for care and use of animals in biological research as well as biosafety.
    [Show full text]
  • Engineering Life: Building a Fab for Biology
    BY THE BIO FAB GROUP * *David Baker, George Church, Jim Collins, Drew Endy, Joseph Jacobson, Jay Keasling, Paul Modrich, Christina Smolke and Ron Weiss Principles and practices learned from engineering successes can help transform biotechnology from a specialized craft into a mature industry lthough the term “genetic engineering” has been in use for at least three decades, and recombinant DNA methods are now mainstays of modern re- search, most biotechnologists’ work with living things has little in common with engineering. One Areason is that the tools available for building with biological “parts” have yet to reach a level of standardization and utility equal to that in other engineering fields. Another has to do with methods and mind-sets in biology, although these, too, can be powerfully influenced by technology. Electronic engineering, for example, was transformed be- ginning in 1957, when Jean Hoerni of Fairchild Semiconduc- tor, a small company in what would later be known as Silicon Valley, invented planar technology. It was a system for layer- ing and etching metals and chemicals within silicon wafers using templates called photomasks. This new approach al- lowed engineers to produce integrated circuits cleanly and BIOLOGICAL COMPONENTS consistently and to create a wide variety of circuit types just are the basis of an approach by changing the pattern on the photomask. Soon engineers to biotechnology modeled on could draw from libraries of simple circuits made by others electronics engineering. S L IM F IL M S 44 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN JUNE 2006 COPYRIGHT 2006 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, INC. C REDI T www.sciam.com SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN 45 COPYRIGHT 2006 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, INC.
    [Show full text]
  • Applying Engineering Principles to the Design and Construction of Transcriptional Devices Reshma P. Shetty
    Applying engineering principles to the design and construction of transcriptional devices by Reshma P. Shetty Submitted to the Department of Biological Engineering in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY May 2008 c Reshma P. Shetty, MMVIII. All rights reserved. The author hereby grants to MIT permission to reproduce and distribute publicly paper and electronic copies of this thesis document in whole or in part. Author.............................................................. Department of Biological Engineering May 23, 2008 Certified by. Thomas F. Knight, Jr. Senior Research Scientist, Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Laboratory Thesis Supervisor Certified by. Drew Endy Cabot Assistant Professor of Biological Engineering Thesis Supervisor Accepted by......................................................... Alan Grodzinsky Chairman, Department Committee on Graduate Students Thesis Committee Accepted by......................................................... Bruce Tidor Professor of Biological Engineering and Computer Science Chairman of Thesis Committee Accepted by......................................................... Thomas F. Knight, Jr. Senior Research Scientist, Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Laboratory Thesis Supervisor Accepted by......................................................... Drew Endy Cabot Assistant Professor of Biological Engineering Thesis Supervisor Accepted by........................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Ownership and Sharing Setting the Patent Framework for Innovation in Synthetic Biology
    MEETING SUMMARY OWNERSHIP AND SHARING SETTING THE PATENT FRAMEWORK FOR INNOVATION IN SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY Committee on Science, Technology, and Law July 15-16, 2013 INTRODUCTION THE BIOECONOMY AND THE EMERGENCE OF SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY On June 13, 2013, in a much anticipated decision, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a The workshop began with a discussion unanimous opinion in Association for Molecular of the bioeconomy and the role that synthetic Pathology v. Myriad Genetics. Ending a 30 year biology might play in offering scientific and practice of issuing patents on human genes, the technological solutions to the range of Court ruled that, as a “product of nature,” naturally environmental, social, and economic occurring DNA segments (and the information challenges that society will face as world encoded within that DNA) are patent ineligible. demand for food, materials, medicine, water, The Court stated, however, that while isolated and energy increases. Biotechnology, Robert naturally occurring DNA is not patentable, Wells [formerly Organisation for Economic Co- synthetically created complementary DNA (cDNA) operation and Development (OECD)] observed, is patent eligible, as it is not naturally occurring.1 is expected to supply materials to meet these The Myriad decision fortuitously coincided demands. Recent OECD discussions about with a London workshop organized by the U.S. the bioeconomy,3 Wells said, have included National Academy of Sciences’ Committee on discussions about synthetic biology, as both Science, Technology, and Law’s (CSTL) Forum are often linked when member countries on Synthetic Biology and Imperial College envision a future where manufacturing and London. The July 15-16 event, entitled economic growth are decoupled from Ownership and Sharing: Setting the Patent greenhouse gas emissions.
    [Show full text]
  • The Evolving Nature of Synthetic Biology a Panel Discussion on Key Science, Policy, and Societal Challenges Facing the International Community
    The Evolving Nature of Synthetic Biology A Panel Discussion on Key Science, Policy, and Societal Challenges Facing the International Community Introduction by E. William Colglazier Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary of State Moderator: Jonathan Margolis Deputy Assistant Secretary for Science, Space and Health U.S. Department of State Presenters: Drew Endy Stanford University Richard A. Johnson GlobalHelix LLC Eleonore Pauwels Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Friday, August 16, 2013 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. East Auditorium, Marshall Center, U.S. Department of State 21st St Entrance at the intersection of 21st St & Virginia Ave, NW, Washington, DC Presentations will be followed by a Q&A session Guests from outside the State Department must RSVP to Colin Heasley at [email protected] or 202-663-3241 This event is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and the Forum on Synthetic Biology of the National Academy of Sciences’ Committee on Science, Technology, and Law A Q&A period will follow the presentations Speaker Biographies Dr. E. William Colglazier was appointed in July 2011 as the fourth Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary of State. The mission of the Office of the Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary (STAS) is to provide scientific and technical expertise and advice in support of the development and implementation of U.S. foreign policy. From 1994 to 2011, Dr. Colglazier served as Executive Officer of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and the National Research Council (NRC). (http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/169019.htm) Jonathan Margolis, a career member of the Senior Executive Service, serves as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Science, Space and Health in the Department of State’s Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.
    [Show full text]
  • Before Peer Production:Infrastructure
    BEFORE PEER PRODUCTION: INFRASTRUCTURE GAPS AND THE ARCHITECTURE OF OPENNESS IN SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY David Singh Grewal* In memoriam Mark Fischer (1950 – 2015)µ * Professor of Law, Yale Law School, and Director, BioBricks Foundation. The views expressed here are my own, and do not reflect the views of any of the organizations or entities with which I am or have been affiliated. Among those to whom I owe thanks, I am especially grateful to Drew Endy, President of the BioBricks Foundation (BBF) who worked to educate me about synthetic biology, and later invited me to join the board of directors of the BBF, and to the late Mark Fischer, who was the lead drafter (along with Drew Endy, Lee Crews, and myself) of the BioBrick™ Public Agreement, and to whose memory this Article is dedicated. I am also grateful to other past and present directors and staff of the BBF, including Richard Johnson, Linda Kahl, Tom Knight, Thane Krier, Nathalie Kuldell, Holly Million, Jack Newman, Randy Rettberg, and Pamela Silver. I have benefitted from conversations about synthetic biology and open source theory with a number of other scientists, including Rob Carlson, George Church, Jason Kelly, Manu Prakash, Zach Serber, Reshma Shetty, Christina Smolke, Ron Weiss and with a number of lawyers, scholars, and open source advocates including Yochai Benkler, James Boyle, Daniela Cammack, Paul Cammack, Paul Goldstein, Hank Greely, Janet Hope, Margot Kaminski, Mark Lemley, Stephen Maurer, Eben Moglen, Lisa Ouellette, Jedediah Purdy, Arti Rai, Pamela Samuelson, Jason Schultz, and Andrew Torrance, and especially Talli Somekh, who first introduced me to synthetic biology and noted the connections between my work in network theory and new developments in biotechnology.
    [Show full text]