CH391L/S12/Synthetic Cooperation: Difference between revisions
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==Benefits== | ==Benefits== | ||
Synthetic consortia have a number of advantages over a single population that makes it beneficial to engineer new systems. Consortia are capable of more complex functions than are possible in individual populations. They also are more robust to environmental fluctuations such as nutrient depletion, invasion of foreign populations, and evolutionary mutations across generations. It is often difficult or impossible to engineer a single microbe to perform two or more tasks. This can be overcome by compartmentalizing the functions desired in different populations within the same culture. To achieve this the cells must be able to communicate with one another. This can accomplished by trading metabolites, as will be discussed later, or by exchange of dedicated molecular signals otherwise known as quorum sensing. This concept is discussed in detail here. | Synthetic consortia have a number of advantages over a single population that makes it beneficial to engineer new systems. Consortia are capable of more complex functions than are possible in individual populations. They also are more robust to environmental fluctuations such as nutrient depletion, invasion of foreign populations, and evolutionary mutations across generations. It is often difficult or impossible to engineer a single microbe to perform two or more tasks. This can be overcome by compartmentalizing the functions desired in different populations within the same culture. To achieve this the cells must be able to communicate with one another. This can accomplished by trading metabolites, as will be discussed later, or by exchange of dedicated molecular signals otherwise known as quorum sensing. This concept is discussed in detail [http://cssb.utexas.edu/circdesigna/ here]. | ||
==Challenges== | ==Challenges== | ||
Revision as of 11:48, 7 April 2012
Synthetic Cooperation
Through recent advances in synthetic biology that allow population level control of stability and dynamics, synthetic biologists are able to reliably control population composition and function. These advances give way to developing more complex ecosystems that can involve multiple microbials growing in consortium. These communities can achieve a variety of functions that may be difficult or impossible for a single microbe to perform on its own. By combining this with new techniques for computation and prediction, optimizing synthetic consortia to provide new methods in the field of bioprocessing, healthcare, and communication are possible.
Benefits
Synthetic consortia have a number of advantages over a single population that makes it beneficial to engineer new systems. Consortia are capable of more complex functions than are possible in individual populations. They also are more robust to environmental fluctuations such as nutrient depletion, invasion of foreign populations, and evolutionary mutations across generations. It is often difficult or impossible to engineer a single microbe to perform two or more tasks. This can be overcome by compartmentalizing the functions desired in different populations within the same culture. To achieve this the cells must be able to communicate with one another. This can accomplished by trading metabolites, as will be discussed later, or by exchange of dedicated molecular signals otherwise known as quorum sensing. This concept is discussed in detail here.
