Synthetic Biology features in the new window display at the headquarters of the Wellcome Trust at 215 Euston Road, London.

The display features six different projects created by students, graduates and staff from the Design Interactions department at the Royal College of Art, each offering an alternative view of how science could influence our future. The purpose is not to offer predictions, but to inspire debate about the human consequences of different technological futures, both positive and negative, by asking 'What If…?'

Curated by leading London based design duo Anthony Dunne and Fiona Raby, 'What If...?' features a range of works by designers who have explored everything from clouds engineered to 'snow' ice cream, through to the social consequences of machines that could read your every emotion - and includes displays exploring the theme of Synthetic Biology by Daisy Ginsberg, James King and Michael Burton.

What if...bacteria recoloured our world? 
E. chromi: James King and Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg, 2009
For the 2009 International Genetically Engineered Machine competition (iGEM), seven Cambridge University undergraduates modified E. coli to secrete coloured pigments. These bacteria, which were named 'E. chromi', have many potential uses, including biosensors to test for pollutants in drinking water. How might the use of bacteria to produce pigments develop? What are the broader implications? The timeline considers products we might buy that use 'E. chromi', people whose livelihood might depend on it, and laws that might be needed to regulate it.

 What if...we accept co-evolution with bacteria, microbes and parasites as a healthy option? 
The Race: Michael Burton, 2007
For every human cell in the body there are ten nonhuman cells - bacteria, viruses, fungi and other microbes - living inside and on you. They are vital to many of your daily functions. 'The Race' responds to this and to human meta-genomic research to reconsider our approach to healthcare as a co-evolved organism and conglomeration of vital bacteria, microbes and parasites. The project scrutinises our inadvertent assistance of super-bugs like MRSA through the overuse of antibiotics. Instead it offers alternative enhancements, new behaviours and objects for a more symbiotic future.

What if...everyday products contained synthetically produced living components? 
The Synthetic Kingdom: A natural history of the synthetic future: Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg, 2009
How will we classify what is natural or unnatural when life is built from scratch? Synthetic biology is turning to the living kingdoms for its materials library. No more petrochemicals: instead, pick a feature from an existing organism, locate its DNA and insert into a biological chassis. Engineered life will compute, produce energy, clean up pollution, kill pathogens and even do the housework. Meanwhile, we add an extra branch to the Tree of Life. 'The Synthetic Kingdom' is part of our new nature. Biotech promises us control over nature, but living machines need controlling. Are promises of sustainability and healthiness seductive enough to accept such compromise?

Senior Curator at the Wellcome Trust, James Peto said: "It's great that there will be so much change built into the designs for the Euston Road windows this year. By next Christmas 'What If...?' will have showcased projects by 15 different students, graduates and staff from the Design Interactions course. The windows offer a great platform for asking some gently provocative questions about humanity's relationship with technology. We estimate that around 5000 people pass by them every day, on foot alone."The display will be refreshed with new designs throughout the year with the first instalment unveiled on Thursday 4 February.

From: http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/News/Media-office/Press-releases/2010/WTX058379.htm

Giant plant cells seen at University of Cambridge 800th Anniversary Finale

Confocal images of plant tissues were used by Ross Ashton, projection artist, as part of an amazing laser show. The show was part of a celebration of learning at the University - with the theme of "Transforming Tomorrow". Images spanning fields such as Astronomy, Nanotechnology and Biology were projected over the King's College Chapel, the Gibbs building and the Senate house. Pictures of the light show can be seen at http://www.flickr.com/photos/79524387@N00/sets/72157623050206293/

Original confocal images can be seen at http://www.plantsci.cam.ac.uk/Haseloff/imaging/CellArchitecture/index.html

The Cambridge iGEM 2009 team presented their E. chromi project at the iGEM Jamboree at MIT. They described new BioBricks for the production of pigments in bacteria, and sensitivity tuners for the construction of new enviromental biosensors. (1st of November 2009)  
The Cambridge iGEM team was awarded the Grand Prize for the iGEM2009 Jamboree - to cap a gold medal and first prize in the Environment track. (Monday 2nd November 2009)

Special Synthetic Biology issue by the Royal Society Interface and IET Synthetic Biology Journals.

Organised by Jim Haseloff, Jim Ajioka and Richard Kitney

This special joint issue contains a collection of articles that describe efforts to establish improved software and biological tools for the design and assembly of synthetic DNA-based programmes. 

This synthetic biology approach is arising as a result of the collision between science and engineering. It is especially appropriate that this special issue is co-sponsored by the Royal Society and the Institution of Engineering and Technology. As well as representing the twin disciplines of science and technology, the two institutions have provided strong support and guidance for the emerging field, and the collection of articles provides an insight into thinking about current challenges in the field, and prospects for future progress.

Areas covered include DNA synthesis and assembly, the design of genetic networks, microbial systems, artificial life and the ethical, social and economic implications of synthetic biology. All the contributions are free to access online - at The Royal Society Synthetic Biology Gateway.

Synthetic Biology Project

Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (http://www.synbioproject.org)

The Synthetic Biology Project was established as an initiative of the Foresight & Governance Program of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. The Project aims to foster informed public and policy discourse concerning the advancement of synthetic biology – an emerging interdisciplinary field that uses advanced science and engineering to make or re-design living organisms, such as bacteria, so they can carry out specific functions. Synthetic biology involves making new genetic code, also known as DNA, which does not already exist in nature. 

The Synthetic Biology Project provides independent, rigorous analysis that can inform critical decisions affecting the research, commercialization and use of synthetic biology. Its objective is to help ensure that, as synthetic biology moves forward, possible risks are minimized and benefits maximized. The Synthetic Biology Project has produced a number of informative reports about Synthetic Biology.
Trends in American & European Press Coverage of Synthetic Biology
Tracking the last five years of media coverage
New Life, Old Bottles
Examines the benefits and drawbacks of using the existing U.S. regulatory framework for biotechnology to cover the new products and processes enabled by synthetic biology.

Royal Academy of Engineering launches 'Synthetic Biology: scope, applications and implications'

May 2009: A report launched by the Royal Academy of Engineering highlights an emerging but critical new field of innovation and technology that has potential for major societal benefit and wealth creation in such areas as healthcare, energy and the environment. Synthetic biology - the insertion of carefully engineered DNA into bacteria cells to make them behave in new ways - is an emerging technology that could bring great benefits. Synthetic Biology: scope, applications and implications identifies the next steps to build on the UK's position in the field, create a regulatory framework and to explore, with the public, the ethical and societal issues involved.

Chairman of the working group that produced the report, Professor Richard Kitney OBE, FREng Co-Director of the Centre for Synthetic Biology and Innovation, Imperial College London comments: "There is a real opportunity for the UK in synthetic biology. We need a national strategy that looks to develop synthetic biology research and skills, involve industry partners and engages with the public on any concerns as the technology evolves."

Click here to download the report

Emergence: A Foundation for Synthetic Biology in Europe

Synthetic biology has emerged as a very recent but highly promising approach to re-organizing the scientific biological endeavor by integrating central elements of engineering design. By applying the tool box of engineering disciplines such as electrical, mechanical, or chemical engineering and computer sciences, including the vigorous application of modeling techniques and organizing the development of novel biological systems along a hierarchical systems architecture with defined and standardized interfaces, synthetic biology aims at no less than revolutionizing the way we do bioengineering today. If successful, synthetic biology will transform bioengineering into a highly successful and sustainable life science industry.

The objective of this coordination action (CA) EMERGENCE is to provide a communication and working platform for the emerging European synthetic biology community in order to strengthen the organizational and conceptual basis of the synthetic biology as a true engineering discipline in biological engineering.

 click to see Partner Labs

IET Synthetic Biology Journal

Synthetic Biology is a new interdisciplinary endeavour which involves the recruitment of engineering principles to biology. Simple biological elements can be adopted as reusable, components, which are well characterised and can be used for the construction of more complex devices and systems. The approach allows the biological application of engineering concepts such as modularity, abstraction and insulation from underlying detail. The reuse of modular components also facilitates software modelling, and work in the field is promoting parallel developments in computer software. New students and workers are coming into the field from very diverse areas, and need to come to grips with the nitty-gritty of unfamiliar biological systems, engineering tools and computer sciences. There is a demand for specialised coverage of this new field, including educational and review materials. IET Synthetic Biology will aim to support this growing new community.

The journal will publish conventional research papers in synthetic biology. It will also provide a "nuts and bolts" view of this new field, and will provide review and educational materials. In particular, we wish to support the activities of young workers entering the synthetic biology field.