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From 2012.igem.org

Mission Statement

The UIUC 2012 iGEM team has embraced human practices as an opportunity to develop our own sense of ethics and responsibility while promoting general knowledge about synthetic biology.

We have decided to focus our energies on a collaboration to produce informative and thought provoking videos on genetically modified organisms as well as individual presentations on synthetic biology within the Champaign-Urbana community.

Engineering Open House (EOH)

UIUC iGEM was proud to present an exhibit at the 92nd annual 2012 Engineering Open House, or EOH. Over two sunny days on March 9 and 10, iGEM presented one of over 230 exhibits as part of one of the country’s largest science fairs.

Our exhibit on synthetic biology and the manipulation of DNA fit perfectly with the event’s theme, “Dream, Design, Discover.” At our booth we explained what DNA was to school children and then amazed them by allowing them to extract their own DNA via salt water and rubbing alcohol!

We explained the amazing uses of biobricks by displaying plates with drawings colored by E. Coli transformed with YFP, GFP, and mCherry.

We also discussed the safety and ethics of such genetic manipulations with parents and professors who stopped by our station.

Pictures of the event can be found at our Flikr Page

Lincoln's Challenge Academy

In accordance to our "hands on" approach in getting directly involved with our community and involving the philosophies of science with local educational facilities, we visited and presented at the Lincoln's ChalleNGe Academy in Rantoul, Illinois (which was only about a half hour drive outside of campus).

As a part of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program, the students were of a high school age demographic. However, the demographic and educational backgrounds has its differences from the standard educational system. Members of our team who had participated in educational scientific demonstrations had never been exposed to environment of a military academy. The scientific demonstrations involved:

• Fluorescent hand lotion to demonstrate the spread of pathogens through common contact with objects and people
• Colouring silly putty and exploring the physical properties of the putty we made
• Demonstrating and explaining what happens when dry ice interacts with soap, how temperature affects physical properites of substances
• Flash freezing everyday items like candy bars and even the silly putty to show how heat energy is transfered

"My visit to those fellow students at the academy will not soon be forgotten. I heard stories, saw faces, and hopefully made an impression on them. My goal when I went in that building was to shatter any perceptions of science students and science as “stuffy” and “uptight”. After talking to them between demonstrations, I think I did that. I wanted to share my belief with them that science and education in general are the most beautiful privileges we have. In return I feel inspired by them to be a role model and use my talents to help others, wherever I find myself in the future.”
- Cara Schornak

"The faces seemed familiar, but the atmosphere felt so foreign. It was eye opening to say the least; I feel like the schools most of us on the iGEM team went to pampered us with scientific education focuses. I'm glad we were able to open some eyes too, especially with the demonstrations we did with the liquid nitrogen and dry ice."
- Bob Chen

GMO Collaboration

The overriding purpose of human practices is to educate the public about what synthetic biology is, what it’s applications are, and the safety of future developments in the field. To this end we are proud to collaborate with fellow iGEMmers from Cornell and the University of Southern Denmark to produce a video series on GMOs, or Genetically Modified Organisms.

We hope to engage the general public in a thoughtful conversation on this hot topic by discussing the history, ethics, and future of several GMO areas, all of which have been effected by the innovations of synthetic biology. Please check out the videos at our youtube channel. In particular, we have created 2 videos – one on transgenic corn and another on gene therapy.

Gene Therapy and Synthetic Biology

Genetically Modified Corn

Special thanks to the following faculty for their time and participation in our videos.

• Dr. Fred Below, Professor of Crop Physiology
• Dr. Rita Mumm, Director of Illinois Plant Breeding Center
• Dr. Stephen Moose, Professor of Plant Genomics
• Dr. Huimin Zhao, Centennial Endowed Chair Professor

Synthetic Biology Class

Last year the UIUC iGEM 2011 team proposed a class in synthetic biology as part of their human practices project. This year we can see the continuation of our efforts.

This fall the first class of BIOE 498 Section TL "Introduction to Syn Bio" met with Professor Ting Lu to learn about the basics of synthetic biology.

Click here to download the class syllabus!

Further Resources

While just beginning research, we as a team tried to understand the impact synthetic biology has made on the public and what type of public impression has been made. The result of our research was this compilation of resources, which shows how popular media has reported on synthetic biology advances. It is an excellent source for both learning more about synthetic biology and understanding how science relates to social policy.

Time Magazine - “The Risks and Rewards of Synthetic Biology”, Nancy Gibbs, June 28, 2010. Editorializing about the risks of Synbio in the light of Craig Venter and the Gulf Oil Spill - “Scientist Creates Life. That’s a good thing, right?”, Alice Park, May 20, 2010. - Jeffrey Kluger, senior editor of science and technology - Nancy Gibbs, high profile editor and essayist - Alice Park – Science writer, medical background - Bryan Walsh – senior writer covering energy and environment, but occasionally writes about “scary diseases” - John Cloud – senior writer, writes Healthland’s Lab Rat Column - Sora Song – editor of Healthland - Alexandra Sifferlin – writer/producer, young Newsweek Magazine - “3 Ways to Reinvent America”, Randall Lane, Jan 24, 2011. Synbio and biotech as the next big innovative fields that will drive the US economy. - “The Deadliest Art Ever”, Jaimie Etikin, May 30, 2010. Drawing pics with E. coli, quotes on synbio by Jeff Tabor. - “Let There Be Life: Five possible implications of Craig Venter’s creation of synthetic organisms”, Mary Carmichael, May 20, 2010. - “Stewart Brand, an Icon of Environmentalism, Talks about Embracing Nuclear Power”, Andrew Blast, October 21, 2009. “The next generation, known as synthetic biology, has learned the lesson that efforts were not made to get really good public understanding and permission to go ahead with new technology.” - “Jay Keasling: Saving the world, one molecule at a Time”, Jeneen Interlandi, Dec. 19, 2008. About Keasling tackling malaria via synbio. - “A Bug to Save the Planet”, Fareed Zakaria, Jun 7, 2008. An interview with Craig Venter on his ambitions to make a bacteria to eat CO2 and make biofuel. - “Life 2.0”, Lee Silver, June 3, 2007. A general overview of the progress of synbio - Sharon Begley – senior health and science correspondent at Reuters - Mary Carmichael – was senior science writer at Newsweek, is now writing for the Boston Glove in higher education. Should try to contact anyways. - Wall Street Journal - “How Much ‘Abundance’ Will the Future Hold?”, Christopher Shea, March 12, 2012. Authors Peter Diamandis and Steven Kotler (“Abundance”) offer a rebuttal to reviewer Matt Ridley that invokes the power of synbio and the iGEM competition as innovative energies. - “(ECO:nomics) Where Entrepreneurs Come From”, Yuliya Chernova, March 22, 2012. An excerpt from the ECO:nomics conference where Craig Venter brings up synbio as a field inspiring young people to innovate. - “Drew Endy, Bio-Engineer: The ‘Next Steve Jobs’?”, Robert Lee Hotz, Oct 7, 2011 - “Presidential Advisory Panel Takes ‘Middle Course’ on Synthetic Biology”, Robert Lee Hotz, Dec 16, 2010. Contains link to white house documents - “Programming Cells to Do the Work”, Jacob Goldstein, July 20, 2009. The basics of synbio and potential for health treatments - Robert Lee Hotz – science columnist, well respected, has covered genetic engineering and biotech Chicago Tribune - Editors Cara DiPasquale (cdipasquale@trbiune.com) and Kris karnopp (kkarnopp@tribune.com) - Jule Deardorff – health columnist (although more about lifestyle, we can try it anyways) - Contact news desk CNN - “Bid to program new life forms with ‘operating system’ for cells”, Lara Farrar, Nov 22, 2011. About programming cells in the AudACiOus project and the potential of doing so. - “‘Living’ buildings could inhale city carbon emissions”, George Webster, Oct 14, 2011. Imperial College London works on synthetic chemicals that act as cells to take carbon and produce limestone, helping buildings be greener. - “Scientists create computer-programmable bacteria, Craig Johnson, Dec. 12, 2010. About the creation of logic gates in bacteria and the vision to completely reprogram bacteria. - “Exxon, DNA pioneer join on algae biofuels”, Dean Irvine. Venter teams up with Exxon to make bacteria that eat CO2 and produce biofuels - “Synthetic biology inches toward the mainstream”, Cherise Fong, Oct 17, 2008. Covers what is syn bio, how is it done in lab, what can be done with it, biosecurity and ethics, innovation and companies. BBC - “Warnings of ‘bio-error’ in new science”, video by science editor David Shukman, Mar 28, 2012 - “‘Caution needed’ on synthetic biology”, video interviewing Prof. Paul Martin (University of Sheffield, sociology) on synbio ethics, Mar 27 2012 - “The strange new craft of making life from scratch”, video with science editor David Shukman about syn bio, Mar 26, 2012 - “The BBC’s David Shukman explains synthetic biology”, Mar. 26. 2012 - A collection of videos on synbio progress: squid color changing gene, spider genes in goats, oil producing algae, living computers - “Artificial life ‘needs regulations’ - public survey says”, video, June 14, 2010 - “‘Major benefits’ to synthetic biology”, video, May 6 2009 - “Concerns over synthetic biology”, audio of Prof. Paul Martin (then of University of Nottingham) about the potential misuse of synbio - “Synthetic life ‘no terror threat’”, Cristina Jimenez, Oct. 24, 2007. Craig Venter defends synbio and it’s potential for good - “Patent system ‘stifling science’”, James Morgan, Sept. 24, 2008. Synbio and other such emerging fields need to share intellectual property and be given opportunities for funding and growth. - “Science View: Creating artificial life”, Clare Spencer, May 21, 2010. A summary of various scientists perspective on Venter’s 1st synthetic organism - “Assessing the impact of Venter’s ‘synthetic life’”, Susan Watts, May 20, 2010, video with script - “Leading Edge: Recreating Woolly Mammoths”, Nov. 6, 2008. audio where host Geoff Watts gotes to the 2008 iGEM jamboree to talk to Cambridge - David Shukman: BBC’s first science editor - BBC’s Research and Development Blog New York Times - “US bioethics commission gives green light to synthetic biology”, Andrew Pollack, Dec. 16, 2010. The Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues says that synbio is in its infancy and poses few risks. - “Do-It-Yourself Genetic Engineering,” Jon Mooallem, Feb. 10, 2010. Follows the City College of San Francisco 2010 iGEM team. Also explains synbio and discusses the nature of the iGEM community as being in it’s infancy and it’s open sharing on the parts registry. - “Genetic Engineers Who Don’t Just Tinker”, Nicholas Wade, July 8, 2007. What is synbio? Introducing the work of Craig Venter - “Genetic Code of E. Coli is HIjacked by Biologists”, Nicholas Wade, July 14, 2011. Details a synbio project and the changes made to e.coli for what purposes. - “Baby Steps to New LIfe-forms”, Olivia Judson, May 27, 2010. The Opinionator on the advent of synbio. - “Researchers Take Step Toward Synthetic Life”, Andrew Pollack, Jan. 25, 2008. On Venter’s syn organism. - “Researchers Say they created a ‘synthetic cell’”, Nicholas Wade, May 20, 2010. - Nicholas Wade - Science writer and editorialist - Andrew Pollack - biotech writer - Jon Mooallem - contributing writer and free lance journalist (science focus) - Olivia Judson - former writer for the Opinionator. Find her! She wants to know “seven amusing things to do with bacteria” USA Today - “Global research to grow in 2012 amid innovation debate”, Dan Vergano, Dec. 29, 2011. Will synbio and biotech become a growing field full of innovation? - “Strides in biodefense follow 2011 anthrax scare”, Dan Vergano, Sept. 30, 2011. Synbio is a security concern. A rogue scientist might make a super evil microbe of some sort. - “Synthetic biology bioethics panel reaction round-up”, Dan Vergano, Dec. 16, 2010. Key statements from Obama’s bioethics panel on synbio, with response from Craig Venter. - “‘Synthetic biology’ holds promis, but vigilance need”, Dan Vergano, Dec. 16, 2010. Overview of the Obama report. Has a positive tone, reporting that synbio is young, no serious threat yet, and has “more promise than peril”. - “America cautious, but okay, with synthetic biology”, Elizabeth Weise, Sept. 10, 2010. Talks about the new field getting exposure to the American public. The synbio project did a survey revealing that people like synbio for some purposes, but not others. - “The human genome: Big advances, many questions”, Steve Sternberg, Aug. 10, 2010. How the human genome project very naturally led to the new field of synbio. Concerns about when the technology leaves the hands of top researchers and trickles down to grads, undergrads, and the public. - “Scientists create 1st bacteria strain from man-made DNA”, Dan Vergano, May 20, 2010. - “‘Synthetic biology’ holds promise, but doubts simmer”, Dan Vergano, Aug. 30, 2009. Lists the promise vs. the perils. - Dan Vergano - medical and science reporter, former aerospace engineer, interested the relation of science and politics MSNBC - “Singularity University Announce Inaugural Synthetic biology accelerator program”, May 17, 2012. Program serves as an incubator for startup synbio companies serving research and commercial purposes. - “What to do about synthetic life”, Alan Boyle, Mar. 13, 2012. From the Cosmic Log column. Addresses the opinions of those who called for a moratorium, along with opinions from those in the biotech industry and outsiders from the synbio project and the like. - “Bright bacteria wins synthetic biology contest”, Eric Bland, Nov. 6, 2009. What is synbio? Details some of the star projects from the 2009 competition. - “Mmm, beer. This brew could extend your life”, Nov. 10, 2008. 2008 Rice University iGEM team used yeast that produced resveratrol to make beer. They used the tyrosine pathway. - “Scientists engineer E. Coli to trace faces, images”, Eric Bland, Sept. 29, 2009. The 2009 UCSF iGEm project with Jeff Tabor. - “Living computers solve complex math puzzle”, Bryn Nelson, June 2, 2008. Davidson College’s iGEM team uses a flipping enzyme to solve the ‘burnt pancake problem’ and also looks at tetracycline resistance. - “Yeast adds vitamins to bread”, John Roach, 2011, Written for the Future of Tech blog. Johns Hopkins iGEM team uses yeast that’s got tons of beta-carotene to make healthier bread. Mentions other prominent iGEM projects and the potential for innovation. FOX - “Synthetic biology raises ethical concerns”, Elizabeth Prann, Nov. 17, 2010. Covers the synbio discussion in the light of Obama’s bioethics committee. - “Government OKs Controversial research into artificial life forms”, Dec. 16, 2010. Expresses disappointment that the Obama bioethics panel decided to let the synbio industry self regulate. - “Google unveils “Solve for X,” a secret project to solve the world’s biggest problems”, Reb. 6, 2012. Google announced a new project for everyday people to be innovative, mentions synbio as a new technology driving innovation. - “Energy in America: New Liquid Fuel faster, more efficient - and greener, too”, Molly LIne, Aug. 2, 2011. Synbio being used to make better biofuels. - “In search of the next big attack, long after 9/11”, Sept. 9, 2011. Synbio offers bioterrorists new opportunities. - “Americans Ignorant of Plans to Create Artifical Life”, Robert Roy Britt, Oct. 1, 2008. Says big things are coming, here are the pros and cons. Slate - “Don’t be afraid of the dragon”, Andrew Hessel, Feb. 3, 2011. Slide show on synbio from the future tense conference on government and scientific advances. - “Faking organisms”, William Saletan, Feb. 1, 2011. From the future tense conference, makes recommendations and a plan for dealing with syn bio. - “The Sins of Syn Bio: How synthetic biology will bring us cheaper plastics by ruining the poorest nations on Earth”, Jim Thomas, Feb. 2, 2011. From the Future tense conference. Examines the economic cost of synbio, including using biomass, denying jobs from those 3rd world countries that depend on traditional ‘dirty’ commerce. - “The Military’s Push to Green our Explosives.”, Rob Carlson and Daniel Grushkin, Jan. 19, 2012. The military’s dual interest in synbio for making, preventing, and being worried about bioterrorism. - “Innoncence and Syn”, Jesse Lichtenstein, Nov. 30, 2007. About the rise of iGEM and synbio. Washington Post - “Scientists create cell based on man-made genetic instructions”, David Brown, May 21, 2010. About Venter’s artificial organism and how it sparked the interest of all, including Obama’s bioethics committee. Daily News

Read more at the following websites:

• SynBioProject
• SyntheticBiology.org
• Bioethics Article by collaborating figures in the SynBio field
• Discussion of the advancements of the J. Craig Venter Institute

SynBio Presentations

We love sharing our passion for science and synthetic biology! Throughout the year, we have given interactive presentations to a wide range of audiences, all dedicated to inspiring future synthetic biology innovations and establishing a trusting relationship between snybio scientists and the general public.

If you would like to learn more about synthetic biology or schedule a presentation from the 2012 UIUC iGEM team, please contact Asha Kirchhoff at kirchho2@illinois.edu