Research

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Synthetic Biology underpins advances in the bioeconomy

Biological systems - including the simplest cells - exhibit a broad range of functions to thrive in their environment. Research in the Imperial College Centre for Synthetic Biology is focused on the possibility of engineering the underlying biochemical processes to solve many of the challenges facing society, from healthcare to sustainable energy. In particular, we model, analyse, design and build biological and biochemical systems in living cells and/or in cell extracts, both exploring and enhancing the engineering potential of biology. 

As part of our research we develop novel methods to accelerate the celebrated Design-Build-Test-Learn synthetic biology cycle. As such research in the Centre for Synthetic Biology highly multi- and interdisciplinary covering computational modelling and machine learning approaches; automated platform development and genetic circuit engineering ; multi-cellular and multi-organismal interactions, including gene drive and genome engineering; metabolic engineering; in vitro/cell-free synthetic biology; engineered phages and directed evolution; and biomimetics, biomaterials and biological engineering.

Publications

Citation

BibTex format

@article{Moore:2017:10.1042/BST20170011,
author = {Moore, SJ and macdonald, JT and freemont, PS},
doi = {10.1042/BST20170011},
journal = {Biochemical Society Transactions},
pages = {785--791},
title = {Cell-free synthetic biology for in vitro prototype engineering},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1042/BST20170011},
volume = {45},
year = {2017}
}
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RIS format (EndNote, RefMan)

TY  - JOUR
AB  - Cell-free transcription–translation is an expandingfield in synthetic biology as a rapidprototyping platform for blueprinting the design of synthetic biological devices. Exemplarefforts include translation of prototype designs into medical test kits for on-site identifica-tion of viruses (Zika and Ebola), while gene circuit cascades can be tested, debuggedand re-designed within rapid turnover times. Coupled with mathematical modelling, thisdiscipline lends itself towards the precision engineering of new synthetic life. The nextstages of cell-free look set to unlock new microbial hosts that remain slow to engineerand unsuited to rapid iterative design cycles. It is hoped that the development of suchsystems will provide new tools to aid the transition from cell-free prototype designs tofunctioning synthetic genetic circuits and engineered natural product pathways in livingcells.
AU  - Moore,SJ
AU  - macdonald,JT
AU  - freemont,PS
DO  - 10.1042/BST20170011
EP  - 791
PY  - 2017///
SN  - 1470-8752
SP  - 785
TI  - Cell-free synthetic biology for in vitro prototype engineering
T2  - Biochemical Society Transactions
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1042/BST20170011
UR  - http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/46179
VL  - 45
ER  -
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