Future, night lighting may be in significant savings on electricity consumption, because we can be given the task of lighting were designed by the synthetic biologists out to
led high bay light the plants. Recently, the U.S. scientists who firefly luciferase transplant called Arabidopsis plants, bred to light in Arabidopsis seeds. Not only that, it will glow glowing animals such as fish, luminous sheep scientists are starting to be successful cultivation.
In this regard, Chinese Academy of Sciences, synthetic biology research expert Professor Zhao Guoping, said in an interview, so that bioluminescence is not difficult, the difficulty lies in the genes behind this circuit design, namely, how to make these creatures according to the wishes of the designer , when the luminous glow, should shine when "rest", the accumulation of energy.
The luminescence genes transplanted into a living body is a blessing or a curse? Synthetic biology technology will change the future of mankind how to live?
Send Valentine glowing roses is not a dream
Recently, in San Francisco, synthetic biology botanist Dr. Kyle Taylor and technology entrepreneurs Anthony Evans fanfare joint research and development are "light plant" project. On its website, they called everyone wanted to provide a more natural, energy-saving lighting the way, one day so that we say goodbye with a light bulb. They synthetic biology body a firefly luciferase genes into plant body, improved design and gene expression control, can now called Arabidopsis plants research issue more similar than previously bright fluorescence. In the future, they hope to be able to develop sustainable light plants as street lighting, and the technology applied to other fields such as flowers gardening.
Currently, this team has will be able to cultivate the seeds of Arabidopsis shine out. Next, the scientists could be transplanted to other plants such DNA body. Scientists confident that the next step could want roses glow, making this technology more business value.
These young scientists is very business savvy, their side research, while extensive network platform to seek sponsorship from friends to support research fund. They will own the results quickly packed into cool fashion products, use these products in exchange for sponsorship from friends all over the world. Such as sponsorship $ 25, you can have a successful experiment in Arabidopsis photo printed T-shirt. Laboratory cultivated Arabidopsis seeds probably will glow asking $ 40. If you want to start playing from the experimental stage, it is much more dig $ 100, several PhD will be how to do their own written Raiders. You do not say that they did receive more than 6,000 people around the world, ranging from the amount of donations. They eventually raise the $ 65,000 to complete the experiment in Arabidopsis. They are currently raising funds for research and is moving towards more complex objectives - Rose embarked. Outcome, now impossible conclusion.
Gene wonders: Can glow in the dark sheep
Allow plants glowing gene transfer technology is not particularly new. Taiwan scientists have successfully called "bio-LED"
led high bay light gold nanoparticles implanted into an aquatic plant, so that aquatic plants give off light. New York University researchers have developed a similar light-emitting plants. However, Ao Murui · Ai Minuo · Zhuorui and Kyle Taylor claimed in an interview, in the previous study, based on their design more complete gene sequencing can better make them brighter.
In this regard, Professor Zhao Guoping said: "First of all, this technology is not difficult. Worthy of recognition is to let the plant emits light to illuminate, this record would be fun. Compared to other plants, Arabidopsis has a biologist who understand more clearly the plants, it is also relatively simple manual control From firefly luciferase protein is a luminescent protein, let it shine need to consume energy, it would be transplanted into the plant body, plant photosynthesis to produce their own so that luciferase protein light up the energy. "researchers also introduced to foreign Arabidopsis photosynthesis luciferase protein to the" power fuel ", but does not make the same plant as the driving heat lamp.
Coincidentally, the recent, widely reported in the media are creating Uruguayan scientists will light sheep's news. Uruguay Scientists pointed out that perhaps the future we can get fluorescent shining wool textiles. Guoping Zhao pointed out that different Arabidopsis with glowing, luminous sheep protein from the jellyfish luminescent transplant. Luminescent jellyfish protein needs from sunlight or ultraviolet light to shine. And from firefly luciferase protein does not need the sun can shine in the night, by contrast, it is easy to transplant plants luciferase application direction toward the street lead. "Compared to some basic scientific exploration, scientific public prefer to ask what's the use, but perhaps interesting in itself meaningful. Glowing wool Maybe in the future on the stage, in the spotlight, to give the stars' costumes add magnificent effect, let us aquarium pet fish will be light, like the fish of the players may make more happy. "Zhao Guoping laughed.
Next: To install a light-emitting biological control switch
Professor Zhao noted that it would not otherwise glowing bioluminescent not difficult, according to researchers in the biological make wishes, should glow when illuminated. If you accomplish something in this regard, is the real "gold" of synthetic biology technologies and new progress.
"Theoretically, people can shine, but you will not agree to let you or your child becomes shiny it? Apart from technical issues, there are ethical issues behind this, if the United States can these few PhD gene circuit design to plant hair does not shine with a controllable switch, for example, when no light in the daytime, night comes, the days of the darker the higher the brightness, which is more difficult, but this has only really been applied significance with different genetic elements, the design of genetic lines, so that genetic elements in the plant in accordance with our wishes expressed in the outside when the light is not expressed in the 'break', through photosynthesis, the accumulation of energy, and the outside dark when he expressed, shine, this is the 'gold' high, there are practical significance of synthetic biology. "
Because the plant's own genetic differences as well as people of different plants in different levels of genetic manipulation techniques, you want to make roses glow, much more difficult than in Arabidopsis. "Shanghai streets are more plane trees, want them to one day replace the traditional lamp to illuminate for pedestrians, I am afraid will be more difficult, but not impossible." Professor Zhao said.
Concerns:
Will new technologies Cause genetic pollution?
Netizens from around the world for the new technology of American Scientists, a relatively big concern is safety. "This thing will not pollute our home garden other plants, so that they also launched light?" "If I'm not careful nurturing them dead, how do? Simply bury can degrade it?"
Several scientists invited to Harvard University Professor of biological safety for everyone explanation. They admitted: "insects, birds caused by pollen, does result in plants that are infected with other relatives risk." But they said that in the scientific process, these issues have been carefully considered, "why choose Arabidopsis mustard, because it is pollinated plants for ourselves, nor is the U.S. native plants, wild plants in the United States the world where there is no 'relatives'. "
In this regard, Professor Zhao Guoping that, in fact there are many solutions, for example, there are many plants in nature, that is, through asexual reproduction procedure that allows these plants to
led high bay light . You can also simply do not let luminous flowering plants, but also to completely avoid pollen spread this problem.
Perhaps it is because the rendering of the Hollywood sci-fi blockbuster, for gene synthesis organisms, such as the public has variations like horror imagination. In this regard, several scientists explained that the current design of Arabidopsis basically put out all excess energy is used to shine, and in the evolution of capacity is weaker than many other common plants. Professor Zhao Guoping, said: "In the synthetic biology research, every advance in exceptionally difficult, you want to achieve exaggerated horror sci-fi film in the degree that it is not possible. Additionally, the majority of responsible scientists are good, if there is really any harm, first to suffer is the scientists themselves. safety issues from the professional point of view is to be strictly controlled. "
Is changing the world Synthetic Biology
Synthetic biology is currently for the public is still a relatively new concept. Boston University professor of bioengineering James Collins in "Nature" magazine published a scientific article, explain to the general reader synthetic biology is currently doing work. He used the image of the building blocks, to explain the occurrence of this field of research in innovative changes. He pointed out that the use of biology and engineering methods, scientists are changing the world. Scientists are trying to be seen as a set of building blocks cells, their use of genetic "building blocks" and protein "building blocks" to create a variety of new cells and its new features, such as oil spills can be cleaned of bacteria capable of producing new materials the cells. With a new and interesting way of life re-combinations.
Synthetic biology is also hoped to reduce the cost of the pharmaceutical industry, such as drugs to treat cancer and infectious diseases, malaria typical example is to artemisinin, the number produced in the past mainly dependent production of Artemisia herb. Currently, in the laboratory using eukaryotic unicellular organisms produce acid precursor of artemisinin, making the cost of drugs is greatly reduced. In addition, people can make use of synthetic biology to discover new drugs. If scientists want to find a drug for a certain disease genes, synthetic biology platform technology through rapid, high-volume screening. Platform engineered bacteria if drug reaction reports related genes (the majority are using a luminescent protein) will be open to the cells "light up", told the scientists, the drug is in accordance with their purpose at work. Scientists pace of discovery and development of drugs and took a step forward.
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