Pimp my Genome! The Mainstreaming of Digital Genetic...

Google Tech Talks
May 3, 2007

ABSTRACT

DNA is a programming language for living cells. The cell's basic operating system, or genome, directs functions like growth and reproduction, energy utilization, and the production of useful compounds like ethanol or penicillin. With genetic engineering, new functions can be added to cells or broken metabolic pathways repaired. Until recently, genetic engineering has required the DNA molecule itself to be physically manipulated, a tedious and expensive process. Now, automatic DNA synthesis permits virtually any DNA code to be made from scratch, opening up genetic engineering to anyone with a computer and a credit card. The capabilities of this new synthetic...

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[LucidusTreefrog]

Frog on a Window View: Use the cc.

[47f0]

- "This lecture reveals the reality of progress."

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Yes, it does. Just not in the way you think. It serves as a benchmark to understand just how rapidly this science is advancing. Since this lecture, we have "booted up" our first bacteria with a completely synthetic genome. Our understanding of the interaction of regulatory genes has jumped, and we are sequencing an exponentially larger number of genes every month. For a "sloppy science" genetics is producing results faster than physics

[Jonny Deth]

I think the ultimate purpose of this lecture was to really break down the dogma of scientists working in this field and showing they don't really know the long term results of their work. As it is, it takes them a decade to produce a new procedure, a new drug etc.

In truth, it's a really sloppy technology using sophisticated equipment and methodology and there is the source of the dogma. The ego of the technician compromises the work.

This lecture reveals the reality of progress.

[chavdar84]

Ask yourself where is this going to go!