Genetic circuit design automation

Abstract

As synthetic biology techniques become more powerful, researchers are anticipating a future in which the design of biological circuits will be similar to the design of integrated circuits in electronics. Nielsen et al. describe what is essentially a programming language to design computational circuits in living cells. The circuits generated on plasmids expressed in Escherichia coli required careful insulation from their genetic context, but primarily functioned as specified. The circuits could, for example, regulate cellular functions in response to multiple environmental signals. Such a strategy can facilitate the development of more complex circuits by genetic engineering.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Apr 01, 2016
Source ID
10.1126/science.aac7341

Entities

People

  • Alec A K Nielsen
  • Bryan S. Der
  • Christopher Voigt
  • David Ross
  • Douglas Densmore
  • Elizabeth A. Strychalski
  • Jonghyeon Shin
  • Prashant Vaidyanathan
  • Vanya Paralanov

Organizations

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  • Boston University
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • National Institute of General Medical Sciences
  • National Institute of Standards and Technology
  • National Research Council
  • National Science Foundation
  • Office of Naval Research

Tags

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Molecular Genetics
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Microelectronics