Andrew Hessel

Hi! My name is Andrew Hessel. I am a biologist working in Toronto, Canada, to grow and support synthetic efforts.

My interest in synthetic biology stems from work I did in the early 1990's, where I studied the genomes of and collated the available sequence information for various Salmonella species. This led me to investigate emerging technologies for automated high-speed sequencing and made me realize a major oversight in genomics: there was no practical way to write DNA code. I've kept a keen eye on the advancement of DNA systhesis technology ever since.

Today, writing DNA for small genomes or contructs is feasible and growing more affordable by the day. This is more than just another ho-hum new technology to come down the pipe: it is a fundamental shift at the core of the life science. The genetic manipulations currently done in laboratories today is still largely dependent on the physical manipulation of the DNA molecule itself -- methods that require expensive reagents, equipment, and facilities. This won't be the case in another decade. Instead, virtually all genetic constructs will be synthesized de novo by specialized fabrication shops or on inexpensive bench-top devices.

The arrival of synthetic DNA (which I abbreviate sDNA) transforms the language of DNA into a bona-fide programming language. The diversity of life on this planet attests to the creative potential available to those able to master this language. It also brings genetics into the ongoing struggle in computer science between proprietary and open software development, but places new emphasis on finding the right balance. Whether we are prepared for it or not, the manipulation of living organisms, even the creation of living organisms, is extending far beyond the professional community of genomic scientists. And, unlike computers, the outputs of this widespread experimentation will not be confined to the virtual world. We're going to live side by side with our creations -- and perhaps even closer than that.

My current contact information is:

Andrew Hessel c/o 620 University Ave, Suite 706 Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6G 2C1 (416) 834-8310 ahessel@gmail.com