Multi- -Disciplinary Convergence in Life Sciences: Disciplinary Convergence in Life Sciences: Multi Multi-Disciplinary Convergence in Life Sciences: Is the Overarching CBRN Security Culture Is the Overarching CBRN Security Culture Is the Overarching CBRN Security Culture the Answer to Governance ? the Answer to Governance the Answer to Governance ? Dana Perkins, PhD Dana Perkins, PhD 1540 Committee Expert 1540 Committee Expert Bio-Chemical security 2030 - towards improved science-based multilevel governance University of Bath University of Bath 30 September - - 01 October 2013, Bath, UK 01 October 2013, Bath, UK 30 September Unless otherwise specified, the opinions presented here are those of the presenter and may not necessarily reflect the views of the 1540 Committee, its Group of Experts, or the UN Security Council
Multi- Multi -Disciplinary & Multi Disciplinary & Multi- -Technology Convergence Technology Convergence • Convergence in life sciences is a “fact of life” • A typical life sciences / biotechnology lab may include inter alia microbiologists, molecular biologists, chemists, clinicians, engineers, and computational scientists • Reciprocal compatibility and synergism of different disciplines and technologies is achieved by integrating application of knowledge at all complexity levels
“Bio-X research is guided by four overarching goals: • To image and simulate life from molecules to mind • To restore the health of cells and tissues • To decode the genetics of health and disease • To design therapeutic devices and molecular machines In its first decade of existence, Bio-X has shown how powerful its interdisciplinary approach to the life sciences can be…” http://biox.stanford.edu/biox/PDF/white_paper.pdf
http://www.ncbl.egicore.com
Convergence of Technologies in Convergence of Technologies in Harnessing the Power of the Microbe Harnessing the Power of the Microbe • Biology-inspired technologies o Bio-batteries o Bio-remediation Karry o Bio-computing Mullis, Stanley Cohen, inventor • Enabling technologies co-inventor of of PCR recombinant and 1983 DNA technology o Genome sequencing tools and resources Nobel (DNA cloning) prize and 1986 Nobel o Molecular tools: PCR, micro-arrays winner prize winner • Emerging technologies convergence o DNA sequencing and nanotechnology o Q-dots • Microbes: friends and foes Health “Green” factories for chemicals, recombinant proteins and fuels Decomposition of organic waste Biopesticides, neutralizers of harmful substances Scientific American Biosensors Agriculture/soil microbiome/ecosystem The “enemy of my enemy”: phage therapy •
Synthetic Organisms Synthetic Organisms Molecular engineering of Vaccinia Molecular engineering of Vaccinia virus gene (VCP) virus gene (VCP) into the Variola into the Variola gene (SPICE) gene (SPICE) through targeted through targeted mutations mutations VCP and SPICE differ genetically by only 0.4 % but Variola’s SPICE is 100 % more active in inhibiting human immunity/C3b Rosengard AM et al. 2002 Variola virus immune evasion design: Expression of a highly efficient inhibitor of human complement. Proc Natl Acad Sci 99: 8808-13 Will this technique be applicable to full genomes ? Will this technique be applicable to full genomes ? Poliovirus synthesis from scratch and recovery of Poliovirus synthesis from scratch and recovery of infectious virus infectious virus Cello J et al. 2002. Chemical synthesis of poliovirus cDNA: Generation of infectious virus in the absence of natural template. Science 297: 1016 -8
Meet Synthia Meet Synthia http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1279988/Artificial-life-created-Craig-Venter--wipe-humanity.html
Bio- -hacking, iGEM hacking, iGEM- -style style Bio • Escherichia coli "computer" flipped genetic material to tackle a mathematical puzzle called the Hamiltonian Path Problem with 3 nodes and 3 edges; has 48 possible orderings • The manipulated DNA of E. coli bacteria created a "machine" that fluoresced red and green when it detected a viable Hamiltonian path order in a bacterium • Davidson's first-generation bacterial computer could evolve into an unbeatable chess playing machine.
DIY Biology DIY Biology • Grassroots movement of amateur and professional biologists, est. 2008 • Online network & collaborations to share knowledge, build camaraderie, cut costs; community labs came next http://www.diybio.org http://www.diybio.org • They use home-built (or refurbished second hand) lab equipment, write their own code http://www.genspace.org http://www.genspace.org (software and genetic), engineer tissue, purify proteins, extract nucleic acids, and design their own bio-systems, all on a hobbyist‘s budget
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Citizen_Science
Gamers Succeed Where Scientists Fail: Gamers Succeed Where Scientists Fail: Molecular Structure of Retrovirus Enzyme Solved, Molecular Structure of Retrovirus Enzyme Solved, Doors Open to New AIDS Drug Design Doors Open to New AIDS Drug Design ScienceDaily (Sep. 18, 2011) — Gamers have solved the structure of a retrovirus enzyme whose configuration had stumped scientists for more than a decade. The gamers achieved their discovery by playing Foldit , an online game that allows players to collaborate and compete in predicting the structure of protein molecules.
Quo vadis, Biotech ? Quo vadis, Biotech ? "For the most part, genetic engineering is done by taking components, like genes, from nature and using them. But nature designed them for a different purpose, so the point of synthetic biology is to have well-characterized components that we can easily assemble to engineer biology and do genetic manipulation in a much easier way ." - Jay Keasling , Director, Joint BioEnergy Institute - • Bio-medicine o Complex molecular devices for tissue repair A future when : o Smart therapeutics Food is plenty and healthy o Novel delivery systems En Energy is clean and o Personalized genomic medicine sustainable o In vivo drug synthesis by microbiome manipulation The good health of people, • Environment and energy animals, plants and the o Bioremediation environment is the norm o “Green” energy microbial production o Safe GMOs • In vitro synthesis of complex biopharmaceuticals • Sustainable “green” chemical (microbial) industry • Production of smart (bio)materials
http://www.physorg.com/news184310039.html
Convergence of Technologies in Convergence of Technologies in Harnessing the Power of the Nano Harnessing the Power of the Nano “In the near future, nanotech-enabled technologies intended for use in the body will erase any remaining distinction between “therapy” and “enhancement” and could change, quite literally, the definition of what it means to be human…Homo sapiens 2.0 Homo sapiens 2.0…”- ETC Group • Nano-medicine o Enhanced prostethics http://www.nanotech-now.com The Borg Hive The Borg Hive o Nano-structured implants/ scaffolds for tissue regeneration o In vivo nano-sensors o Q-dot single protein label o Nano-manufacturing /liquid glass o Dx/Rx nano-shells/ dendrimers/bots • Nano-enhanced physical and cognitive performance • Exploiting quantum effects for smart nano-materials, bionics, biomimetics, neuromorphic engineering, brain-machine interface http://www.ngm.com
Nano- -Armageddon Armageddon Nano - the the “ “grey goo grey goo” ” scenario scenario - - - • Grey Goo – a term coined by Eric Drexler • Hypothetical end-of-the- world scenario involving out-of-control, rapidly self- replicating nano-robots that consume all organic matter Shane Hope’s representation of the “grey goo on Earth armageddon”, part of the artist’s show on trans- humanism, called "Your Mom Is Open Source” at the Winkelman Gallery, NYC Q: Will robots inherit the earth? Q: Will robots inherit the earth? A: Yes, but they will be our children… … A: Yes, but they will be our children - Marvin Minsky -
Bio- -Armageddon Armageddon Bio - the the “ “green goo green goo” ” scenario scenario - - -
Somewhere in the Galaxy Somewhere in the Galaxy between the “ “green goo green goo” ” and an uncertain future and an uncertain future… … between the • Ability of individuals to harness the microbe power for nefarious purposes • Environmental and ethical challenges posed by emerging technologies and the ensuing public debate • Human augmentation systems • Pace of changing the traditional institutional and regulatory frameworks to keep up with technological advances and science dynamics such as the convergence of nano-, bio-, information and materials technology • Ability to develop countermeasures to threats as a measure of deterrence • Omnipresence of insecurity, including terrorism
The Good, the Bad, and the Unthinkable… … The Good, the Bad, and the Unthinkable • Risk posed by open • Health, safety, environment source biology? • Social and ethical issues • Threats due to terrorism • Bio-/Chem-preparedness and criminal intent 1975 Asilomar conference marked the beginning of an era of public discussion of policy addressing the (laboratory, environmental safety) challenges of emerging technologies
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