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Izvor:www.technocrat.net
"Synthetic Life" Company Founded
A new company has been started, Synthetic Genomics, who's goal is to create synthetic engineered microorganisms, literally starting from scratch. Initially any creations will be used in the energy business, for the production of ethanol and hydrogen. They envisage using a modular plug in approach, adding in desirable DNA and genes to "empty" cells, creating brand new life forms.
PR from that site:
"Synthetic Genomics, Inc., a new company that will develop and commercialize synthetic biology, was launched today (June 29th). The Company will engineer modular “cassette” based systems to execute specific functions using reprogrammed cells as bio-factories. Synthetic Genomics, Inc.’s initial focus will be on ethanol and hydrogen production. After leveraging enormous archives of genomic sequence data, the Company will integrate novel processes to design, build, and test desired outputs from synthetic organisms.
According to J. Craig Venter, Ph.D., founder, chairman and chief executive officer of the Company, “Rapid advances in high throughput DNA sequencing and synthesis, as well as high performance computing and bioinformatics, now enable us to synthesize novel photosynthetic and metabolic pathways. Using diverse sets of genes, including those from over 300 fully-sequenced genomes, will allow our new company to develop synthetic organisms for specific industrial applications.”
A host cell that has reduced and reoriented metabolic needs can generate biological energy applicable to a broad range of industrial fields including energy, industrial organic compounds, pharmaceuticals, CO2 sequestration, fine chemicals, and environmental remediation. “We are in an era of rapid advances in science and are beginning the transition from being able to not only read genetic code, but are now moving to the early stages of being able to write code,” said Dr. Venter.
Founder and president Juan Enriquez added, “Harnessing the power of synthetic biology can lead to alternative energy sources that may have a significant impact on energy markets. We need to rapidly develop non-petrochemical, cleaner burning fuels.” ...more at the links
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