Synthetic Biology:Abstraction hierarchy: Difference between revisions

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==Background==
{{Synthetic biology top}}
After [[Endy:Lab Meeting 9/14/2005 | lab meeting]], a few of us were having a discussion on what the schema for the [http://parts.mit.edu Registry] should look like.  (Some notes from that discussion are posted [[Synthetic Biology:Semantic web ontology | here]]).  During the discussion, we started talking about the abstraction hierarchy that is on the [http://parts2.mit.edu/r/parts/htdocs/AbstractionHierarchy/index.cgi Registry page] and originally from one of [[Drew Endy | Drew's]] slides.
 
<div style="padding: 10px; width: 730px; color: #000000; background-color: #ccccff">
 
==Motivation==
 
Abstraction hierarchies are a '''human''' invention designed to assist people in engineering very complex systems by ignoring unnecessary details.  If the process to design a biological system was to write down the string of nucleotides, it would immediately become untenable even for experts to design anything but very simple systems.  Most people just aren't capable of processing that kind of detail all at once.  If instead, an abstraction hierarchy is specified, it allows the designer of a biological system to ignore some of the implementation details and focus only on the high-level design issues.
 
Engineers in all disciplines take advantage of abstraction hierarchies to design and build complicated systems. For instance, software engineers write in high level programming languages like C++ or Java which are designed to be easy for humans to read and write.  These programs are then translated into lower level sets of instructions that are more easily translatable to bit strings that are machine interpretable and implementable.  Thus, the people who write C++ programs do not need to know how to translate their programs to machine code and the people who work on instruction sets do not need to envision all possible programs that the software engineer might write.
 
To enable the engineering of very complex biological systems, it will be necessary to develop abstraction hierarchies for biological engineering.  At this point, it is not necessarily clear which hierarchies are most useful and in fact it may be slightly premature to try and develop them.  Nevertheless, thinking about what an abstraction hierarchy in synthetic biology should look like might help us think about the "right" way to engineer biological systems and to design biological parts.
 
Below several abstraction hierachies are listed that might be appropriate for biological engineering.  Anyone should feel free to revise them, add new candidate hierarchies or add comments as this is very much a work in progress.  An attempt has been made to give credit to the originators of each of the candidate abstraction hierarchies; however, this should in no way be a deterrent to those interested in offering revisions. The abstraction hierarchies have been listed in chronological order of inception.
 
==Candidate abstraction hierarchies==
 
===DNA, parts, devices and systems model===


[[Image:AbstractionHierarchy.jpg]]
[[Image:AbstractionHierarchy.jpg]]


==Motivation==
Abstraction hierarchies are useful in general because they enable an engineer to cope with very complex systems by ignoring unnecessary detail.  Thinking about what an abstraction hierarchy in synthetic biology should look like might help us think about the "right" way to engineer biological systems.


==Parts, devices and systems==
{| style="background:#ccccff"
===Ad hoc definitions===
! align="left" | Layer name
The question that arose is, what is the distinction between a device and system?  Generally, to date we haven't had a crisp distinction between parts, devices and systems. The working definitions to date are something like
! align="left" | Definition
*'''DNA''' = low level DNA sequence ... a string of A,T,G,C's
! align="left" | Example
*'''Part''' = RBS, CDS, promoter, terminator; a piece of DNA in BioBricks format that has a specific function.
|--
*'''Device''' = inverter; something else with a higher level function; composed of multiple parts
| DNA
*'''System''' = ring oscillator; composed of many devices
| sequence of nucleotides
| ATGGATCATGATG
|--
| Part
| a finite sequence of nucleotides with a specific function
| RBS, CDS, promoter, terminator
|--
| Device
| multiple parts with a higher level function
| inverter
|--
| System
| multiple devices hooked together
| ring oscillator
|}
 
The original abstraction hierarchy is posted on the [http://parts2.mit.edu/r/parts/htdocs/AbstractionHierarchy/index.cgi Registry page] and is originally from one of [[Drew Endy | Drew's]] slides.
 
by [[Drew Endy]].
 
----
 
===Screenability model===
 
{| style="background:#ccccff"
! align="left" | Layer name
! align="left" | Definition
! align="left" | Example
|--
| DNA
| sequence of nucleotides
| ATGGATCATGATG
|--
| Part
| a finite sequence of nucleotides with a specific function
| RBS, CDS, promoter, terminator
|--
| Device
| one or more parts which can be screened for functionality
| promoter, terminator, inverter
|--
| System
| multiple devices which cannot be screened for functionality
| ring oscillator
|}
 
by [[Jason Kelly]].
 
----
 
===Composition model===
 
{| style="background:#ccccff"
! align="left" | Layer name
! align="left" | Definition
! align="left" | Example
|--
| DNA
| sequence of nucleotides
| ATGGATCATGATG
|--
| Part
| a sequence of DNA with a specific function that can be physically combined with other parts via an assembly standard
| RBS, CDS, promoter, terminator
|--
| Device
| a set of parts that can be functionally combined with other devices via a common, standard signal carrier (i.e. PoPS, RiPS, PhPS)
| inverter
|--
| System
| a set of devices that cannot be functionally combined with other devices via a common, standard signal
| ring oscillator
|}
 
See [[Synthetic Biology:Abstraction hierarchy/Composition model]] for notes on the abstraction hierarchy developed based on composability. 
 
by [[Reshma Shetty]] and [[Barry Canton]].


===Composition-based definitions===
----
====Attempt 1====
Obviously, the distinctions are somewhat vague.  The idea that dawned on [[Reshma Shetty | me]] during the course of the discussion with [[Jason Kelly | Jason]] and [[User:Ilya | Ilya]] is to use the following (slightly more crisp?) distinctions
*'''DNA''' = low level DNA sequence ... a string of A,T,G,C's
*'''Part''' = a piece of DNA in BioBricks format which usually has a specific function. 
**a terminator stop transcription
**a promoter initiates transcription
*'''Device''' = a basic or composite part whose input OR output has units of PoPS (or whatever units the general information signal in the devices have). <br> Another way of thinking of this definition is that a device is any part for which a transfer curve can be drawn in which one of the axes is in PoPS. <br> The key thing to note in this description is that certain BioBricks in the database might be considered a part in one context and a device in another context.<br> I think this definition could be rephrased to say - ''A device is any basic or composite part that can be combined with at least one other device using the PoPS framework.''  I think this might make the reason for defining a device as you have done more clear (at least to me). --[[User:Bcanton|BC]] 09:30, 15 Sep 2005 (EDT) <br>  [[Jason Kelly | Jason]] has been using an operational distinction between devices and systems saying that a device is something whose behavior you can screen for whereas a system's behavior cannot be screened.  Thus, what is a system today might be a device tomorrow if a clever screen is devised.  We should think about whether that definition is more useful than this one or if the two could be merged.
**an inverter is a device. Its input and output are PoPS
**an RBS.GFP.Term is a device.  Its input is PoPS and its output is fluorescence.
**a constitutive promoter is a device.  It has no input and its output is PoPS.  (Note: a promoter is a part in other contexts).
**UT-Austin's photons to PoPS converter is a device.
*'''System''' = Any device which has neither an input nor an output in PoPS.  <br>Some systems can easily be transformed to devices.
**a promoter.GFP.Term is a system.  It has no input and its output is fluorescence.
**The UT-Austin's project is a system.  Its input is photons and its output is blue/white color.
**the repressilator is a system.  It has no input (or its input could be IPTG/aTc) and its output is fluorescence.  The repressilator could easily become a device however.  If a duplicate copy of one of the promoters is present.  Then that promoter has an output of PoPS which could be hooked up to some device.  Thus in this case, the repressilator becomes a device.  <br>
When you add the promoter, I think the repressilator is still a system but it is part of a device.  I'm not sure you can add another promoter and still say that it is the repressilator since you have added a new output.  You cant connect I7101 or the repressilator to another device via the PoPS framework hence they are exlusively systems.--[[User:Bcanton|BC]] 09:30, 15 Sep 2005 (EDT)


Following on from what I wrote above - ''A system is a collection of parts that does not have a PoPS input or output to allow composition with other parts or devices via the PoPS framework''.  So a device has at least one input or output that can be connected to other devices and so can form part of a larger system whereas a system is a complete and "closed" collection of parts.  I don't think I'm changing the definitions too much, just wording them in a way that makes more sense to me.  Worded this way I think they emphasize the composability property of the element which seems like the most clear, since interpreting the function of the elements is subjective as we all agree.--[[User:Bcanton|BC]] 09:30, 15 Sep 2005 (EDT)
===Network layer model===


Thus, the exact classification of a particular BioBrick is not fixed.  In some situations, you might think of promoter as a part because you are referring to a promoter than can be regulated by a certain repressor.  In another situation, you think of a promoter as a device because you need a constant PoPS source in your device/system.  In other words, parts, devices and systems are not disjoint.
This model derives inspiration from the [[Wikipedia:OSI model]] for computer network protocols.


So if I get this right, everything that is on the one piece of DNA is always a part.  However, I think that systems and devices are disjoint sets.  The caveat being that you can easily convert one to the other by adding or removing a PoPS i/o. --[[User:Bcanton|BC]] 09:30, 15 Sep 2005 (EDT)
====Version 1====


====Attempt 2====
{| style="background:#ccccff"
Actually this might mean -  
! align="left" | Layer Number
*'''Part''' = a piece of DNA that can be combined with other parts via BioBricks standard assembly.
! align="left" | Layer Name
*'''Device''' = a part or composite part that can be combined with other parts via PoPS-based composition.
! align="left" | Example Standard
*'''System''' = a part or composite part that cannot be combined with other parts via PoPS-based composition.
! align="left" | Role of User
! align="left" | Category
|----
|Layer 7
|Application
|chemical detector
|Brainstorm need
|System
|----
|Layer 6
|Packaging
|pSB plasmids
|Physical handling of system
|System
|----
|Layer 5
|Environment
|wavelengths of light
|Provide input or observe output
|System
|----
|Layer 4
|Cell
|cell-cell signaling
|none
|Cell
|----
|Layer 3
|Protein
|dimerization interface
|none
|Part
|----
|Layer 2
|RNA
|PoPS
|none
|Part
|----
|Layer 1
|DNA
|BioBricks assembly
|none
|Part
|----
|Layer 0
|Chassis
|nucleotides/amino acids
|none
|Chassis
|}  


====Attempt 3====
by [[Austin Che]].
I like these definitions ... they capture the same ideas in a much more concise way.  Some minor revisions.
*'''Part''' = a piece of DNA with specific function that can be combined with other parts via an assembly standard.
*'''Device''' = a part or composite part that can be combined with other devices via composition based on a univeral signal (i.e. PoPS, RiPS, PhPS).
*'''System''' =  a part or composite part that cannot be combined with other parts via composition.


Changes:
====Version 2====
#Added a caveat to the part definition: i.e. "a piece of DNA with specific function."  Thus, not just any sequence of DNA in BioBricks format can be a part ... it must have a specified function associated with it.  Note that a random piece of DNA could be a part, if its purpose was to be random (like the spacer part). 
#Tried to describe parts, devices and systems more generally.  For example, a part can be combined with other parts via ''an assemble standard'' rather than ''BioBricks standard assembly.''  And instead of ''PoPS-based composition'', just ''composition.''


Note that I am not satisfied with the wording I use above.  So if you have a better idea, feel free to revise. --[[User:Rshetty|Reshma]] 11:02, 27 Sep 2005 (EDT)
This version attempts to reconcile the network layer model with the composition model.


===Justification===
{| style="background:#ccccff"
''Just brainstorming ... edit excessively.''
! align="left" | Layer Number
! align="left" | Layer Name
! align="left" | Example Standard
! align="left" | Role of User
|----
|6
|User
|Detector of Chemical X
|
|----
|5
|Environment
|Batch/continuous, Temp., Media
|Provide input or observe output
|----
|4
|Population
|cell-cell signaling
|Design interactions between different cells
|----
|3
|System
|Signaling molecules, fluorescence
|Design system to process external inputs into detectable outputs
|----
|2
|Device
|PoPS, RiPS
|Use parts to design device with particular transfer curve
|----
|1
|Part
|BioBricks assembly
|Plan and assemble
|----
|0
|Materials
|nucleotides/amino acids
|Choose the materials
|}


One appealing aspect of this composition-based distinction between parts, devices and systems is that it makes it easier to think about classes of standards that might be useful.  There are assembly standards which apply to parts and performance standards (for instance, definitions of high and low signal thresholds) that apply to devices.  These standards facilitate interoperability of parts with other parts and devices with other devices.  Systems, on the other hand, are unlikely (?) to be subject to standards.  Instead, systems are designed to meet a set of specifications.  For example, I want to design a system in which cells that detect a chemical X glow green.  At this point the line between parts, devices and systems might be somewhat artificial but might help stimulate discussion on how to systematically engineer biological systems.
by [[Barry Canton]].


==Network layer model==
See [[Synthetic Biology:Abstraction hierarchy/Network layer model]] for more detailed and extensive notes on the network layer model.


I propose a more general/different model based on the OSI network model:
</div>
[[Network Layer Model]] --[[User:Austin|Austin]] 16:40, 21 Sep 2005 (EDT)
{{Synthetic biology bottom}}

Latest revision as of 15:33, 22 December 2005

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Motivation

Abstraction hierarchies are a human invention designed to assist people in engineering very complex systems by ignoring unnecessary details. If the process to design a biological system was to write down the string of nucleotides, it would immediately become untenable even for experts to design anything but very simple systems. Most people just aren't capable of processing that kind of detail all at once. If instead, an abstraction hierarchy is specified, it allows the designer of a biological system to ignore some of the implementation details and focus only on the high-level design issues.

Engineers in all disciplines take advantage of abstraction hierarchies to design and build complicated systems. For instance, software engineers write in high level programming languages like C++ or Java which are designed to be easy for humans to read and write. These programs are then translated into lower level sets of instructions that are more easily translatable to bit strings that are machine interpretable and implementable. Thus, the people who write C++ programs do not need to know how to translate their programs to machine code and the people who work on instruction sets do not need to envision all possible programs that the software engineer might write.

To enable the engineering of very complex biological systems, it will be necessary to develop abstraction hierarchies for biological engineering. At this point, it is not necessarily clear which hierarchies are most useful and in fact it may be slightly premature to try and develop them. Nevertheless, thinking about what an abstraction hierarchy in synthetic biology should look like might help us think about the "right" way to engineer biological systems and to design biological parts.

Below several abstraction hierachies are listed that might be appropriate for biological engineering. Anyone should feel free to revise them, add new candidate hierarchies or add comments as this is very much a work in progress. An attempt has been made to give credit to the originators of each of the candidate abstraction hierarchies; however, this should in no way be a deterrent to those interested in offering revisions. The abstraction hierarchies have been listed in chronological order of inception.

Candidate abstraction hierarchies

DNA, parts, devices and systems model


Layer name Definition Example
DNA sequence of nucleotides ATGGATCATGATG
Part a finite sequence of nucleotides with a specific function RBS, CDS, promoter, terminator
Device multiple parts with a higher level function inverter
System multiple devices hooked together ring oscillator

The original abstraction hierarchy is posted on the Registry page and is originally from one of Drew's slides.

by Drew Endy.

Screenability model

Layer name Definition Example
DNA sequence of nucleotides ATGGATCATGATG
Part a finite sequence of nucleotides with a specific function RBS, CDS, promoter, terminator
Device one or more parts which can be screened for functionality promoter, terminator, inverter
System multiple devices which cannot be screened for functionality ring oscillator

by Jason Kelly.

Composition model

Layer name Definition Example
DNA sequence of nucleotides ATGGATCATGATG
Part a sequence of DNA with a specific function that can be physically combined with other parts via an assembly standard RBS, CDS, promoter, terminator
Device a set of parts that can be functionally combined with other devices via a common, standard signal carrier (i.e. PoPS, RiPS, PhPS) inverter
System a set of devices that cannot be functionally combined with other devices via a common, standard signal ring oscillator

See Synthetic Biology:Abstraction hierarchy/Composition model for notes on the abstraction hierarchy developed based on composability.

by Reshma Shetty and Barry Canton.

Network layer model

This model derives inspiration from the Wikipedia:OSI model for computer network protocols.

Version 1

Layer Number Layer Name Example Standard Role of User Category
Layer 7 Application chemical detector Brainstorm need System
Layer 6 Packaging pSB plasmids Physical handling of system System
Layer 5 Environment wavelengths of light Provide input or observe output System
Layer 4 Cell cell-cell signaling none Cell
Layer 3 Protein dimerization interface none Part
Layer 2 RNA PoPS none Part
Layer 1 DNA BioBricks assembly none Part
Layer 0 Chassis nucleotides/amino acids none Chassis

by Austin Che.

Version 2

This version attempts to reconcile the network layer model with the composition model.

Layer Number Layer Name Example Standard Role of User
6 User Detector of Chemical X
5 Environment Batch/continuous, Temp., Media Provide input or observe output
4 Population cell-cell signaling Design interactions between different cells
3 System Signaling molecules, fluorescence Design system to process external inputs into detectable outputs
2 Device PoPS, RiPS Use parts to design device with particular transfer curve
1 Part BioBricks assembly Plan and assemble
0 Materials nucleotides/amino acids Choose the materials

by Barry Canton.

See Synthetic Biology:Abstraction hierarchy/Network layer model for more detailed and extensive notes on the network layer model.

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