Synthesis, an intensive
learning and discussion space for the emerging area of 'synthetic biology',
led by Oron Catts (SymbioticA), Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg (Synthetic
Aesthetics) and Professor John Ward (UCL), with support from the Arts
Catalyst, Jane Calvert (Synthetic Aesthetics, Edinburgh University)
and Jane Gregory (UCL).
During the week
Synthesis explored the ethical, cultural, social and scientific implications
on utilising, controlling, constructing and manipulation living systems.
Practical sessions intersected with lectures, screenings, presentations
and discussions by scientists, activists, artists and philosphers.
Synthetic biology
can be described as as an emerging scientific discipline which uses
wet-lab and engineering principles to create synthetic entities, commonly
by using bacterium as a host. These can be entirely new entities or
entities which are modified from existing life forms.
The week started
with a 'Brief History' of Synthetic biology by Dr Jane Calvert. Jane
Calvert outlined the history, politics and the capitalisation of life
in this new area. Alistair Efflick (Edinburgh University)
went on to describe the notion of 'The Engineering Paradigm' in synthetic
biology which implements the application of engineering principles,
specifically the 'BioBricks' standard as a part-based system for use
in synthetic biology. Prof. John Ward gave a talk on 'Microscopic Workhorses:
Cells, Bacteria and DNA, RNA & Protein Synthesis', which we demonstrated
by 'Plating Bacteria from the Environment' and then by transforming
E-coli with eGFP (enhanced green fluorescent protein). E-coli (escherichia
coli) is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium typified by scientists
as a 'model organism'.
Fernan Federici
(University of Cambridge) talked about his research- 'Plant Synthetic
Biology & Transforming Plants' and the 'bottom-up' synthetic biology
method- the 'Gibson Assembly'. Christina Del Bianco (University of Trento)
led the particpants of the lab through the 'Gibson Assembly' proccedure
and described fabricating the new synthetic life as 'Protolife: Constructing
Cell Like Systems'.
'The Dual Use Dilemma:
Life and Death Science' by Brian Rappert was particularly interesting
as it placed the potential of synthetic biology into a number
of contexts- the military, bio-terrorism, the public domain and institutional
research. The political and capital context was outlined by Jim Thomas
from the 'etc' group (...or Action Group on Erosion, Technology and
Concentration) in 'The Sins of Synbio' from representing and working
with civil grass root organisations and indigenous groups. 'Synthia'
was coined by Jim Thomas, now used by the venture capitalist Craig Venter
whose researchers allegedly created the first synthetic being.
Philosopher Emma
Tobin presented a number of provocations to questions the taxonomy and
classification of life in ' Life verses Biology' using the philosophical
plurist and reductionist approaches. She asked if - 'synthetic biology
is life, alive and should be able to be manipulated ?'. Dr. Nick Lane
went on to define life and proposes that 'the single origin of complex
Life only arose once' and that 'natural genetic fusion of bacterium
and archaea' led to 'eukaryotes'- multi-celled beings as plants and
animals.
On the final day
of the lab Ben Davis (University of Oxford) gave a talk on 'Alternative
Visions: Alternative futures for synthetic biology' where synthetic
biology was presented outside of the binary - good or bad dichotomy.
Ben Davis talked about the 'Quimi-Hib' vaccine developed by Fidel Castro's
Cuban social programme of investing in science for medicine as a case
study for synthetic biology. Finally, Synthesis concluded with a tour
to Crystal Palace 'Archaelogy of a Future Nature: Crystal Palace Dinosaurs'
led by historian and philosopher Joe Cain (UCL). These sculptural artefact
are both simultaneously representational at the time and fictional,
alluding to the great narrative of life as a constant simulation.
Images:
left to right-
- Synthesis team constructing
DNA cocktails
- Abiogensis crystalisation test on 'Self assembling systems'
- Model Organism - live nematode worm under a microscope
- Abiogensis test - 'Self assembling systems'
- Cronin test silde from a talk by brendan foster- 'What is life?'
- Slide from philosopher Emma Tobins 'Life Verses Biology' talk
- Inverted tree of life image, Dr Nick Lane- ' The Origins of Life'
- Plating environmental bacteria on Agar- under a microscope
- DIY labwork with Jennet Thomas & Melanie Jackson
- Constructing a DIY centrifuge
- Bottom up protolife (inverted version) under a microscope
- Gibson Method cells on agar
- Gel electrophrenosis under UV light
- Gibson Method- 'Constructing cell like structures' process
- Materials- plasmid, Dna, buffer
- Cuba's Quimi-Hib vaccine- 'Alternative visions', Prof.Ben Davis
- Xylene image by Fernan Federici- 'Plant Synthetic Biology'
- Oron Catts with agar plates
- Crystal Palace dinosaur tour led by Dr. Joe Cain
- Synthesis team at Crystal Palace
