Synthetic Biology:SB101

The BioBricks Foundation was invited to run a workshop on "Synthetic Biology with BioBricks Parts" at CSB2008. Reusable educational modules about synthetic biology can be found on this page.

Skeletal draft outline of SB101

 * 1) Intro - setting the stage for synthetic biology
 * 2) Overview - imagine sequencing and synthesis became free overnight.  Where does that lead in terms of engineering? (Abstraction, Modularity, Standardization)
 * 3) History
 * 4) Definitions (part, device, chassis, biobrick, physical standard, functional standard, abstraction, engineering cycle)
 * 5) Standard Parts: Goals and Tools
 * 6) Data sheets (goal)
 * 7) Measurement (path toward goal)
 * 8) Jason's story about telegraph cable standardization
 * 9) Getting & Storing parts: Registries & Repositories
 * 10) Legal Standards (Freedom)
 * 11) Production and Use - iGEM (fabs... & codon devices, ginkgo?)
 * 12) Hands on WetLab demo:
 * 13) Transformation foo using real Datasheets
 * 14) Show off a couple of MIT Registry Binders
 * 15) Get involved!
 * 16) biobricks foundation: volunteer, help steer the ship
 * 17) igem: do syn bio for real
 * 18) diybio?

Questions / Ideas

 * In the history of electronics, did the pioneers begin by inventing interesting/useful devices or reusable basic parts? It seems to me they started with certain applications in mind (devices) which over time revealed a set of commonly used basic parts.

Graphics

 * a technology flowchart revealing the significant events leading to the advent of synthetic biology and project what the most important advances will be 5 to 10 years into the future.
 * A diagram representing available biobrick parts & devices localized to their areas of activity in a cell.

Materials

 * 1) Paper copy of the registry (w blotted DNA)
 * 2) Tranformation foo kit (maybe)

Teaching modules

 * 1) Transformation foo kit - good introduction to modular biobrick parts
 * 2) Isn't biology already standardized?  "We use the same words..."

TODO

 * 1) Compile a list of existing resources
 * 2) Review them all for a consensus of bullet points/modules
 * 3) Perhaps there are some well-thought out existing introductions/organiz.
 * 4) Follow up on email summaries:
 * 5) "telconf ultra-short summary" and "Open Source Registry Conference Call"

Resources

 * [[Image:SB_Primer_100707.pdf|Scott Mohr's Primer]]
 * Berkeley Intro to Synthetic Biology
 * Jason Kelly's Measurement Kit Video
 * Targeted Development of Registries of Biological Parts (Peccoud lab
 * Adventures in Synthetic Biology comic