[thedoc (OP)]

What do we mean when we talk about Synthetic Biology? What does it involve? Dr Jim Haseloff from Cambridge University explains...
Read a transcript of the interview by clicking here
or [chapter podcast=2580 track=10.05.16/Naked_Scientists_Show_10.05.16_6270.mp3] Listen to it now[/chapter] or [download as MP3]

[Haric]

Synthetic biology is commonly used in the study of genetics.With synthetic biology,researchers can create a DNA model and place it inside living cells in order to observe the outcome. [:I]

[smart]

Synthetic biology aims to engineer life at the molecular level.  I think the complexity of biological systems and the limited knowledge of biology is however a reasonable issue for creating novel synthetic organisms. Synthetic biology appears to be driven by mankind ambition to control and regulate life for profit...   

[evan_au]

An interview with Craig Venter on his recent attempt to create a living organism with the minimal number of genes (17 minute podcast).
http://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/minimalist-biology-craig-venters-latest-life-form/

They found they needed 473 genes - but about 30% of them have no known function!
They originally left these unknown genes out of the artificial genome, and the organism was not viable.