Deconstructing nature's building blocks
As part of Sciencewise-ERC’s continued commitment to bringing you the latest in UK science and technology public facing activities, we are delighted to showcase this month’s featured event; ‘Synthetic Biology: Machine or Life?’ at the Dana Centre, London hosted by the Science Museum.
Click here to find out about other science and technology related public engagement activities Sciencewise-ERC has featured in the past.
Synthetic Biology: Machine or Life?
(Thursday 20 October 2011, 19:00 - 21:00)
What does Synthetic Biology involve? Is it just a case of putting together different components to perform a certain function? Is the construction of human cells similar to the assembly of machines?
The event will look at how art can help us address some of the questions raised by synthetic biology and showcase short films and artworks on the subject. Visitors can expect an evening of interesting exhibitions and lively debate on how this relatively new field of study might develop in the future.
Related projects
Find out about Sciencewise-ERC’s own Synthetic Biology dialogue project and how engagement in this area may help to inform future policy. Sciencewise-ERC has commissioned a number of dialogue projects in the area of genetics from GM Foods through to Animals Containing Human Materials and the latest advances in Stem Cell science.
Visit our dialogue projects page to find out about other areas of science and technology we are engaging the public on.
Glow in the dark worms
Cambridge scientists recently made a genetic breakthrough by managing to successfully insert an artificial amino acid in the genetic coding of a laboratory worm, causing the worm to glow red in the dark. The implications of the discovery mean that not only can DNA sequences in genetic coding be reordered, but now additional components can be added, opening up a raft of future possibilities. Read more
While such breakthroughs enhance the knowledge of modern science, they also open up the field of genetics to controversy. To what extent should modern science be able to manipulate biological structures? Should there be limits to research? Visit our forum and tell us what you think.