How is it different from traditional agricultural breeding and genetic engineering? Synthetic biology uses new techniques combining biology and engineering to make new or modified living things and materials. Throughout history, humans have strived to create more desirable What is products such as food that is easier to grow and tastes better. Synthetic biology builds on the science of agricultural breeding and genetic engineering to create new things faster and cheaper in even more Synthetic controlled and specific ways. COMPLEXITY OF HUMAN INTERVENTION Biology? COMPLEXITY Natural evolution Traditional agricultural breeding Genetic engineering Synthetic biology Genes & DNA The building blocks of all life Genes are a set of instructions that determine how a living organism forms and grows. Genes influence what we look like on the outside and how we work on the inside. Genes are made of a chemical called DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). DNA molecules are located inside a cell nucleus; DNA carries information and can copy itself. Adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G) are the four nucleotides found in DNA. CELL GENE DNA CHROMOSOME Timeline How genetic manipulation has evolved 10,000 LATE YEARS 1859: 1980s: 1990s: 2013: AGO: Charles Darwin First genetically Genetically Synthetic Humans publishes "The engineered engineered biology begin using Origin of the plants developed foods (GMOs) scientists raise selective Species” on the are available in funds using breeding theory of grocery stores Kickstarter to improve evolution by in the US campaign to agricultural natural create glowing plants and selection plants animals 1700s: 1865: 1953: 1990: 1994: 2010s: Farmers and Gregor Mendel's James Watson First genetically First GMO First scientists begin pea-breeding and Francis engineered food crop, the synthetic cross-breeding experiments Crick describe product approved Flavr Savr biology closely related demonstrate the double in the US—an tomato, is products species to heredity helix structure enzyme used in approved by in use create new becoming the of DNA cheese making the FDA for hybrids foundation of marketing in modern genetics the US Humans have been using selective breeding for 10,000 Traditional years to improve agricultural plants and animals. Farmers choose seeds for future planting from plants with the best traits selecting for taste, color, disease resistance, and Agricultural Breeding productivity. Farmers and scientists have been cross-breeding closely related species for hundreds of years to create new hybrids. Big leaves Crossbreeding can occur only between closely related living organisms. Hybrids inherit a mix of genes from both Tall height parent plants including both positive and negative traits, it is not specific to just one gene. PLANT WITH PLANT WITH DESIRABLE TRAIT #1 DESIRABLE TRAIT #2 EXAMPLES: Most modern fruits and vegetables are hybrids of ancient wild plants. Cross-breeding has created many new and unique varieties. X SEED SELECTION CROSSBREEDING choosing seeds from plants breeding closely-related plants with desirable traits with desirable traits Rutabaga Grapefruit A cross between turnips A cross between and cabbages pomelos and oranges NEW PLANT has a mix of traits, and may or may not Big leaves have the right and tall height mix of desirable traits Apples Corn Many different flavors, Increased size and colors and textures productivity Genetic engineering is a way to speed up and control the plant breeding process by altering or inserting specific Genetic Engineering genes into a new living organism. Scientists can insert individual genes from one living organism into another using biotechnology methods. DNA BACTERIA does not need to come from a closely related species. Scientists have used genetic engineering to create plants with desirable traits such as increased productivity, disease resistance, increased nutritional value, and herbicide resistance. DNA FROM ANOTHER ORGANISM with a desirable trait CORN EXAMPLES: Almost all corn, soybeans, cotton, sugar beets, and canola plants grown in the United States are genetically modified organisms (GMOs). IN THE LAB scientists insert individual genes from different organisms into a plant’s DNA Insect-resistant corn Herbicide-tolerant sugar beets Includes a gene from soil bacteria that is toxic to some insects Genetically modified beets tolerate herbicide spray (Roundup) used to kill weeds NEW PLANT has desirable trait or traits that would not occur naturally DNA Virus-resistant papaya More nutritious rice from different organisms that would Genetically modified to resist the Golden Rice has been not exist in nature ringspot virus by adding a gene genetically engineered to fragment from the virus include beta-carotene, the source of Vitamin A Synthetic biology is a new way of combining biology and engineering to create new or modified living organisms and Synthetic Biology materials that do not currently exist in the natural world. Scientists are developing a library of standard biological parts with known functions that can be put together in FIREFLY combinations that may not exist in nature. CELL PLANT FISH BACTERIA CELL FISH Using building blocks of DNA, scientists create modified or new living organisms. Synthetic (human-made) DNA can even be printed using a special printer. With synthetic biology, cells can be programmed to become tiny factories that produce new materials. New materials can be grown from modified bacteria, algae, or yeast. FUNCTION #1 FUNCTION #2 FUNCTION #3 FUNCTION #4 FUNCTION #5 EXAMPLES: Future synthetic biology products may include new materials, energy sources, medicines, and food. TOOLBOX OF BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS Anti-malaria drug Glowing plant Less expensive malaria drugs Using an enzyme from fireflies, can be grown from modified yeast scientists have created a modified plant that glows in the dark they hope could one day replace electric street lights More sustainable laundry detergent Vanilla made from yeast NEW OR MODIFIED Oils grown from modified algae can Synthetic vanilla can be grown from LIVING ORGANISMS take the place of palm oil; avoiding modified yeast; it is less expensive AND MATERIALS harvesting oil from palm trees which than pure vanilla from vanilla beans can damage rainforest and tastes better than artificial vanilla.