Abstract
This chapter focuses on the organic chemistry and molecular biology technology used in developing synthetic forms of DNA for producing a wide variety of products, such as new life forms and biocomputers. Researchers are also experimenting with various sources of DNA, such as the E. coli genome, to developed synthetic biological circuits that mimic computer logical switches, measured in micrometers, and in a few short years, some of these devices will operate at a complexity level rivaling small computer processors, with the final aim of enhancing well-being and possibly improving intelligence.
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The term synthetic biology was used as early as 1974 by Waclaw Szybalski who saw molecular biology evolving from description to manipulation of genetic systems. See, Kohn, A., and Shatkay, A. (eds.). (1973). “In Vivo and In Vitro Initiation of Transcription.” In: Control of Gene Expression. New York: Plenum Press.
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The J. Craig Venter Institute is a nonprofit genomics research institute founded by J. Craig Venter, in October 2006. The Institute consolidated four organizations: the Center for the Advancement of Genomics, The Institute for Genomic Research, the Institute for Biological Energy Alternatives, and the J. Craig Venter Science Foundation Joint Technology Center.
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Craig Venter a biologist and entrepreneur instrumental in sequencing the human genome, has worked with a team of researchers at JCVI to create the largest man-made DNA structure by synthesizing and assembling the 582,970 base pair genome of a bacterium, Mycoplasma genitalium JCVI-1.0.
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The traveling salesman problem deals with the question: if we have a list of cities and the distances between each pair of cities, what is the shortest possible route that visits each city and returns to the origin city? In mathematical jargon it’s called an NP-hard problem in combinatorial optimization, which finds applications in operations research and theoretical computer science. The mathematician Leonard Euler posed a similar problem referred to as The Seven Bridges of Konigsberg.
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Adleman wrote: “[A] path exists that will commence at the start city (Atlanta), finish at the end city (Detroit).
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Autopoiesis is the property of a bacterial cell or a multicellular organism that allows it to renew itself by regulating its composition and conserving its boundaries, and has called attention to biological mechanisms of self-production. See, Varela, F.J., in Self-Organizing Systems: An Interdisciplinary Approach, 1981.
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According to one developer of these devices, “The ability of DNA-based tracers to store information makes them attractive for performing distributed measurements and delivering localized information upon recollection… We have demonstrated that smart DNA-based tracers can measure temperature, oxidative stress, and light intensity or duration.” See, http://www.fml.ethz.ch/research/fosslab.html#CED4.
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For example, a combination of three genetic toggle switches produce outputs 00000000, when all genetic toggle’s are “off,” and 00000001 00000010, and 00000011, when 1, 2 and 3 genetic toggle switch, respectively are “on.”
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The blood–brain barrier is formed by brain’s endothelial cells which line the cerebral microvasculature. It serves to protect the brain from fluctuations in plasma composition, and from circulating agents, such as neurotransmitters and xenobiotics, which have the potential for disturbing neural function.
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Carvalko Jr., J.R. (2020). Bioengineered Computers. In: Conserving Humanity at the Dawn of Posthuman Technology. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-26407-9_22
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-26407-9_22
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