BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Talks.cam//talks.cam.ac.uk//
X-WR-CALNAME:Talks.cam
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:Synthetic Biology: New Technologies and Sustainable Solutions - Dr
  Jim Haseloff\, Department of Plant Sciences\, Cambridge
DTSTART:20140114T200000Z
DTEND:20140114T211500Z
UID:TALK49640@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Adam
DESCRIPTION:Synthetic Biology is an emerging field that seeks to employ en
 gineering principles to reprogram living systems. Biological systems are c
 haracterised by highly complex genetic and cellular networks that are lock
 ed together by dynamic\, parallel and non-linear feedback interactions tha
 t give rise to properties of self-organisation\, repair and reproduction. 
  These evolved systems pose formidable challenges to rational engineering 
 approaches.  Yet\, they are capable of assembling functional structures th
 at are many orders of magnitude more complex than the most sophisticated m
 an-made artifacts\, and they do this in a renewable fashion\, and cheaply.
 \n\nRecent scientific advances allow us to use imaging techniques to monit
 or activities within living organisms\, to precisely reconstruct cellular 
 dynamics\, and to analyse and resynthesise DNA systems at the scale of ent
 ire chromosomes. This new field of Synthetic Biology is based on the use o
 f well characterised and reusable components and numerical models - for th
 e design of biological circuits\, in a way that has become routine in othe
 r fields of engineering. \n\nIt is providing a conceptual and practical fr
 amework for the systematic engineering of plant and microbial systems\, an
 d is contributing to a new wave of opportunities for improved sustainabili
 ty and production of biomass\, fuels\, food\, polymers and drugs. The talk
  will focus on the prospects for this potentially disruptive technology an
 d impact on biology and biotechnology.\n\nEveryone is welcome. Free for me
 mbers\, £2 on the door for non-members. Followed by refreshments (that me
 ans smoothies\, cheese and grapes!).
LOCATION:Department of Pharmacology Lecture Theatre\, Tennis Court Road
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR