Welcome to the World of Synthetic Biology.


Synthetic biology is genetic engineering done with digital tools. It is a fast-growing field of science and engineering poised to play a significant role in society.
Industry
Wired UK: The Bio-Crime Prophecy

Wired UK: The Bio-Crime Prophecy

Hacking computers is commonplace today and is at the forefront of national security concerns.  But looking into the the future, hacking DNA is an emerging threat.  Cells are living computers.  DNA is software.  Our bodies are networks.  And they can all be hacked.  Imagine a crime scene where your involvement has been spoofed.  (See a...
USB-Sized DNA Sequencer by Oxford Nanopore

USB-Sized DNA Sequencer by Oxford Nanopore

  How quickly things change in the genomic world!  Just over a month since Ion Torrent announced their next-generation Proton Sequencer, the technology may already be obsolete.  This week, the first “nanopore” DNA sequencing Device was unveiled at the Advances in Genome Biology and Technology conference by UK-based Oxford Nanopore Technologies.  Nanopore sequencing works by...
Tomorrow Project

Tomorrow Project

I was interviewed for this podcast by Intel Inc. Futurist Brian David Johnson for the Intel’s Tomorrow Project last year in Portland.  Brian helps Intel understand medium-term trends in technology and society so they can align their business operations appropriately.  It’s always a pleasure to work and share information with him.  
Informatics and Synthetic biology - a one-two punch for world economy

Informatics and Synthetic biology – a one-two punch for world economy

Emerging technologies are crucial to continuing global prosperity.  As technologies age, they are replaced by newer ones that offer greater performance, efficiency, or other important advantages.  Recently, the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Emerging Technologies conducted a survey of their network to discover which technology trends would have the greatest short term impact...
Singularity University and Triple Ring Technologies launch Synthetic Biology Entrepreneur Program

Singularity University and Triple Ring Technologies launch Synthetic Biology Entrepreneur Program

February 2, 2012:  Singularity University and Triple Ring Technologies announced the launch of a summer entrepreneurial program in synthetic biology.  The program combines Silicon Valley mentorship in synthetic biology and startup enterprises with world-class engineering in a state-of-the-art laboratory space, with up to $50,000 in funding.  The goal?  Help young synthetic biologists turn their ideas...
Biology and Military Funding: A bad mix?

Biology and Military Funding: A bad mix?

The field of synthetic biology got a big shot of adrenaline last summer when Alicia Jackson of DARPA, the Q-branch of the US military, at the SB5.0 conference held at Stanford, announced program called Living Foundries aiming to speed the development of new tools for the field.  I attended the Living Foundries Industry Day held...
Material Connexion the global library for materials, including bio-materials.

Material Connexion the global library for materials, including bio-materials.

The proliferation of new, innovative, and more sustainable materials has created a sea change in design.  Helping people better understand their manufacturing choices, Material Connexion is a consultancy and global library of over 6,500 different materials, including bio-materials, with offices in major design and manufacturing hubs including New York, Bangkok, Beijing, and Milan.  Annual subscriptions...
'Virus' soon to control human brains?

‘Virus’ soon to control human brains?

Many think that ‘Synthetic biology’ is still in its infancy; but Andrew Hessel of Singularity University on Nasa’s research campus, has some other version to say…