ArtScienceBangalore 2009-Synthetic Biology for Artists and Designers

About
We consider ourselves amateurs/novices within the context of the IGEM competition. Our endeavor as “outsiders” is to bring our training in the arts and design to synthetic biology. Over this summer, we learnt the tools and techniques of synthetic biology and developed a piece of life which reflects our concerns, namely, the cultural, ethical and aesthetic implications of Synthetic Biology. Using a DIY approach and getting our hands “wet” was a critical element in the learning process. This approach allowed us to engage in constructive discussions with scientists working in the field. Our construct synthesizes Geosmin, an enzyme normally produced by cyanobacteria and actinobacteria. The biosynthesis of geosmin from farnesyl diphosphate is catalyzed by a single enzyme germacradienol/germacrene D synthase. E. coli, does not bear a gene that codes for germacradienol/germacrene D synthase. We have expressed this gene in different strains of E. coli, under control of the pTrc  promoter present in the pTrc99a vector. Geosmin is responsible for producing the earthy smell that occurs in the air when rain falls after a dry spell of weather.

People
Akash Hirosh

Dhruv Nawani

Nikhil Patil

Upasana Simha

Sandeep Mathew

Sanya Rai Gupta

Avni Sethi

Neha Bhat

Gautam Vishwanath

Krupakar Dhinakaran

Ideas


Major Outcomes -


 * Ideas for Bacteria.


 * Facilitate a group of children to design their 'perfect creature' through visual/tactile media and then draw from these experiences and ideas to build another structure.


 * Basic information on micro biology-synthetic biology becomes accessible in the forms of brochures/charts/posters in the team's work space.

Workshop
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Other
http://www.historyforkids.org/scienceforkids/biology/cells/doing/dna.htm

It is helpful to have an idea of how the other teams are progressing. So, if anyone comes across interesting iGEM team wikis/sites - please put up the links here.

http://igem.uwaterloo.ca/The_UW_iGEM_Team

The IBB Pune Team's wiki 

NYMU-Taipei's 2008 Wiki

Readings
Art and Politics

Art

Science

Ethics

Design &amp; Technology

Synthetic Biology

General Design Links