The future of engineering devices, systems and materials: made from bacteria?

Imperial College scientists showcase synthetic biology at Royal Society exhibition - News Release

Imperial College London News Release

Under strict embargo for
18.00 hours British Summer Time
Monday 2 July 2007

Members of the public will get to see how revolutionary scientists and engineers are proposing to make counters, sensors, calculators and other devices out of living bacteria at this year's Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition.

The researchers from Imperial College London will be manning a stand which will allow exhibition visitors to find out more about the brand new science of 'synthetic biology.' Posters and interactive computer stands will describe how pioneering researchers at Imperial are modifying DNA, which is then put into e-coli bacteria cells, to make living devices that do not exist in the natural world.

Visitors will also have the chance to move Lego 'BioBricks' – representing strands of DNA that instruct a cell to behave in a certain way – around a giant replica e-coli cell that has been chopped in half, mimicking the work of the researchers.

Professor Richard Kitney   from Imperial's Department of Bioengineering, one of the senior synthetic biology researchers at the College, explains: "By putting together different 'BioBricks', scientists can create new devices and may in the future be able to build living machines. Synthetic biology is a new and very exciting field. It has an incredible amount of potential to change our daily lives. New materials such as for cars and aircraft, computers, building materials, medicines – so many things could be improved by modifying and recombining DNA."

This new, emerging area of science is in its early stages and is being worked on by a team of 30 engineers and scientists at Imperial. They, and other teams at universities around the world, are producing a catalogue of BioBricks, and have successfully completed 800 so far. The Imperial team has already successfully produced a bacterial oscillator and is working on a bacterial NAND gate – both of which are vital components of a basic computer.

Professor Kitney anticipates rapid progression in the field. "I think within two to three years we will see a counting device made from bacteria with modified DNA. And then moving on from this the next step would be a more complicated calculator. Obviously, in the long run, we are looking at using this technology to create biologically-based 'computers' that can survive in environments where traditional computers cannot; such as at the bottom of the ocean or inside a human cell."

Professor Paul Freemont   from Imperial's Division of Molecular Biosciences, the second senior synthetic biology researcher at the College involved in the exhibit, adds: "Bringing together engineers with life scientists to re-engineer biological systems for the benefit of mankind is a very exciting development. As we are now beginning to understand biological behaviour as a whole system, the ability to apply engineering design principles to modify these complex biological systems is very challenging but has enormous potential. We are now moving into a truly interdisciplinary era where areas like synthetic and systems biology require the training of new breed of scientists who can traverse easily between different disciplines."

Synthetic biology research at Imperial will play a significant role in the recently-launched Institute of Systems Biology which will bring together the College's engineers, life scientists, biomedical researchers, mathematicians and physical scientists to work on a number of different projects. From October 2008, undergraduate students studying biology and biochemistry or bioengineering at Imperial will be able to elect to take a module in synthetic biology.

The Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition is held annually at the Royal Society, the UK's national academy of science. The event is free and open to the public. This year, 23 interactive exhibits will be on show presenting the best of UK science, engineering and technology. During the four days of the event, more than 4,000 people are expected to take up the opportunity to explore the exhibition.

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For more information please contact:

Danielle Reeves at Imperial College London’s press office
Tel: +44 (0)20 7594 2198
Mob: +44 (0)7803 886248
Email: Danielle.reeves@imperial.ac.uk

Or Clare Kingston at the Royal Society’s press office for queries about the Summer Science Exhibition
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7451 2508
Email: clare.kingston@royalsoc.ac.uk

Notes for Editors:

1. About the Royal Society Summer Science

The Exhibition runs from Monday 2 to Thursday 5 July 2007.

Press preview: 3.00 – 5.00 Monday 2 July

Exhibition opening times:

Monday 2 July 18.00 - 21.00 (late opening)
Tuesday 3 July 10.00 - 21.00 (late opening)
Wednesday 4 July 10.00 - 16.30
Thursday 5 July 10.00 - 16.30

Last entry 30 minutes before closing

Further information can be found at www.summerscience.org.uk

The Royal Society can be found at 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AG.

2. About Imperial College London

Rated as the world's ninth best university in the 2006 Times Higher Education Supplement University Rankings, Imperial College London is a science-based institution with a reputation for excellence in teaching and research that attracts 11,500 students and 6,000 staff of the highest international quality.

Innovative research at the College explores the interface between science, medicine, engineering and management and delivers practical solutions that improve quality of life and the environment - underpinned by a dynamic enterprise culture.

With 66 Fellows of the Royal Society among our current academic staff and distinguished past members of the College including 14 Nobel Laureates and two Fields Medallists, Imperial's contribution to society has been immense. Inventions and innovations include the discovery of penicillin, the development of holography and the foundations of fibre optics. This commitment to the application of our research for the benefit of all continues today with current focuses including interdisciplinary collaborations to tackle climate change and mathematical modelling to predict and control the spread of infectious diseases.

The College's 100 years of living science will be celebrated throughout 2007 with a range of events to mark the Centenary of the signing of Imperial's founding charter on 8 July 1907.

Website:www.imperial.ac.uk