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| <p>A key question our team had for Mike was how environmental biotechnologies can successfully be implemented into Australian industries, and what barriers exist to this implementation. The first issue he identified was the disconnect which exists between research, classically conducted at university institutions, and businesses. In Australia there exists a need for greater interdisciplinary integration, so that the foundational research is able to be developed effectively into useful products for society. The difficulty of regulation, particularly environmental regulation, was flagged by Mike as a definite difficulty he faces in the continued implementation of his own work. Liaising with environmental protection agencies is necessary, and requires effective scientific communication, not only about the mechanics of the project, but the risks which have been evaluated. Mike found himself often dispelling preconceived notions, which had caused bias against the progression of environmental biotechnologies. Another hurdle to effectively creating a market for environmental bioremediation was the inclusion of terminology in legislation which unintentionally impacted the use of bioremediation technologies. </p> | | <p>A key question our team had for Mike was how environmental biotechnologies can successfully be implemented into Australian industries, and what barriers exist to this implementation. The first issue he identified was the disconnect which exists between research, classically conducted at university institutions, and businesses. In Australia there exists a need for greater interdisciplinary integration, so that the foundational research is able to be developed effectively into useful products for society. The difficulty of regulation, particularly environmental regulation, was flagged by Mike as a definite difficulty he faces in the continued implementation of his own work. Liaising with environmental protection agencies is necessary, and requires effective scientific communication, not only about the mechanics of the project, but the risks which have been evaluated. Mike found himself often dispelling preconceived notions, which had caused bias against the progression of environmental biotechnologies. Another hurdle to effectively creating a market for environmental bioremediation was the inclusion of terminology in legislation which unintentionally impacted the use of bioremediation technologies. </p> |
| <ul> | | <ul> |
− | <p><b>Lessons learnt & implemented into Bleb from this line of enquiry:</b> | + | <p><b>Lessons learnt & implemented into Bleb:</b> |
| <li>Identifying a <b>gap in the market</b> is necessary to create a successful product. Particularly in Australia, where the biotechnology industry is relatively small, thoughtful technology design is very important. For our project, continued market research will be necessary to determine the scope of its applicability in this area.</li> | | <li>Identifying a <b>gap in the market</b> is necessary to create a successful product. Particularly in Australia, where the biotechnology industry is relatively small, thoughtful technology design is very important. For our project, continued market research will be necessary to determine the scope of its applicability in this area.</li> |
| <li><b>Industrial optimisation </b> is an essential factor to consider. Particularly as our product does not replicate, the viability of the product to be produced on a large scale must be assessed. Additionally, the benefit of biosafety against the need to place large amounts of product in polluted sites should be balanced, and research into companies who have considered similar ideas in the past need to be studied.</li> | | <li><b>Industrial optimisation </b> is an essential factor to consider. Particularly as our product does not replicate, the viability of the product to be produced on a large scale must be assessed. Additionally, the benefit of biosafety against the need to place large amounts of product in polluted sites should be balanced, and research into companies who have considered similar ideas in the past need to be studied.</li> |
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| </ul> | | </ul> |
− | <p>Importance of interdisciplinary integration </p> | + | <p></p> |
| <h4 style="font-family: Slim-Joe;">Medical Biotechnology</h4> | | <h4 style="font-family: Slim-Joe;">Medical Biotechnology</h4> |
| <p>Our OMV platform technology could be customised for various medicinal uses by using OMVs for the uptake, delivery or transport of biologically significant molecules. For example, we hypothesised the potential functionalisation of OMVs into a drug delivery system, biosensor, or vaccine carrier.</p> | | <p>Our OMV platform technology could be customised for various medicinal uses by using OMVs for the uptake, delivery or transport of biologically significant molecules. For example, we hypothesised the potential functionalisation of OMVs into a drug delivery system, biosensor, or vaccine carrier.</p> |
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| <p>From our dialogue with Lawrence, we came to appreciate the potential for synthetic biology in the medical field. By utilising nature as a blueprint, as we have done with the design of our project, we are able to capitalise on exisiting biological processes, and optimise them for novel uses. Some advantages which Lawrence identified from our initial ideas was the clear potential for targeted drug delivery which OMVs provide. Additionally, potential customisation of a biosensor could be optimised to provide point to care diagnostics, and greatly improve patient care.</p> | | <p>From our dialogue with Lawrence, we came to appreciate the potential for synthetic biology in the medical field. By utilising nature as a blueprint, as we have done with the design of our project, we are able to capitalise on exisiting biological processes, and optimise them for novel uses. Some advantages which Lawrence identified from our initial ideas was the clear potential for targeted drug delivery which OMVs provide. Additionally, potential customisation of a biosensor could be optimised to provide point to care diagnostics, and greatly improve patient care.</p> |
| | | |
− | <p>Potential Synbio and our project:</p>
| + | <ul> |
− | <ul> | + | <p><b>Lessons learnt & implemented into Bleb:</b> |
− | <li>Utilising nature as a blueprint, capitalising on an existent biological process</li>
| + | <li>A significant point of consideration for our team's future work will be <b> biophysics</b>, and how this could possibly affect the success of creating functionalised OMVs. Importantly, such considerations should involve an investigation into the kinetics involved in the uptake of periplasmic-localised proteins into our OMVs, and assessment of whether this is energetically favourable for the system</li> |
− | <li>Targeted drug delivery</li>
| + | <li>Another point of consideration raised was the effect of <b>lipopolysaccharide </b>(LPS), found on the outer membranes of gram-negative bacteria, on the ability of OMVs to be utilised for in vivo medical applications. LPS is highly immunogenic, thus in the future its effects need extensive research before attempt of medical functionalisation of OMVs</li> |
− | <li>Point to care diagnostics</li>
| + | <li><b>Contact with clinicians</b>, to discuss the desirability of the technology, and its potential effectiveness, will be essential when the product reaches the stage of development into the medical field</li> |
− | </ul>
| + | <li>As an industrial product, the longevity of OMVs both in the environment and on the shelf need to be investigated. When functionalising OMVs for industrial use in later research stages, stabilisation will be considered as a key design element </li> |
− | <p>Considerations:</p>
| + | </p> |
− | <ul>
| + | |
− | <li>Immune Response, LPS</li>
| + | |
− | <li>Loading with drugs- periplasm: concentration of your target, entropic cost of holding something in a confined space</li> | + | |
− | <li>Biophysics considerations</li> | + | |
− | <li>Scheme as proof of concept</li>
| + | |
− | <li>Contact with clinicians</li> | + | |
| </ul> | | </ul> |
− | <p>Future of synthetic biology, and the importance of programs such as iGEM.</p> | + | <p></p> |
| </div> | | </div> |
| </div> | | </div> |
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| <div class="col-lg-10 col-lg-offset-1"> | | <div class="col-lg-10 col-lg-offset-1"> |
| <h2 style="font-family: Slim-Joe;">Sociology</h2> | | <h2 style="font-family: Slim-Joe;">Sociology</h2> |
− | <p>The success of any emergent technology, particularly within a relatively new field of research, depends not only upon sound scientific practice, but consideration of social factors influencing its direction. We therefore decided it was essential at this early stage of our research to investigate the sociology factors effecting synthetic biology, and determine how to best approach our project to ensure its future success.</p> | + | <p>The success of any emergent technology, particularly within a relatively new field of research, depends not only upon sound scientific practice, but also consideration of social factors influencing its direction. We therefore decided it was essential at this early stage of our research to investigate the sociology factors effecting synthetic biology, and determine how to best approach our project to ensure its future success.</p> |
| <p>Our investigation into the sociological factors influencing the progression of synthetic biology began in discussion with leading academics in the field of environmental humanities. <b>Matthew Kearnes</b> is an ARC Future Fellow at UNSW in the School of Humanities and Languages, focusing upon the intersection between science and social theory, including research into the social dimensions of bionanotechnologies. <b>Eben Kirksey</b> is a Senior Lecturer and DECRA Fellow at UNSW, researching the boundaries of nature and culture, and the political influences on the imaginative processes.</p> | | <p>Our investigation into the sociological factors influencing the progression of synthetic biology began in discussion with leading academics in the field of environmental humanities. <b>Matthew Kearnes</b> is an ARC Future Fellow at UNSW in the School of Humanities and Languages, focusing upon the intersection between science and social theory, including research into the social dimensions of bionanotechnologies. <b>Eben Kirksey</b> is a Senior Lecturer and DECRA Fellow at UNSW, researching the boundaries of nature and culture, and the political influences on the imaginative processes.</p> |
− | <p>The subtle connections between science and society are often overlooked, with researchers assuming that the main issue with public acceptance of new technologies, especially in biology, is a lack of <b>scientific communication and understanding.</b> However, as our team discovered in conversation with Matthew Kearnes, this was an over-simplification of a multi-faceted problem. Although a clear presentation of the research is important for establishing the trust of the wider community, and this contingent upon effective scientific communication, it was noted <i>‘when publics are given more information about genetically modified crops, or perhaps in this case synthetic biology, their concerns are amplified rather than diminished’.</i> Broader concerns exist with the public which aren’t considered at the research stage, as they should be. These concerns include issues of <b>ownership,</b> who controls the product and profits from the product, <b>responsibility,</b> who can be held accountable if technology goes awry, and frameworks for <b>regulation</b> of synthetic products. </p> | + | <p>The subtle connections between science and society are often overlooked, with researchers assuming that the main issue with public acceptance of new technologies, especially in biology, is a lack of <b>scientific communication and understanding.</b> However, as our team discovered in conversation with Matthew Kearnes, this was an over-simplification of a multifaceted problem. Although a clear presentation of the research is important for establishing the trust of the wider community, and this contingent upon effective scientific communication, it was noted <i>‘when publics are given more information about genetically modified crops, or perhaps in this case synthetic biology, their concerns are amplified rather than diminished’.</i> Broader concerns exist with the public which often are not considered at the research stage, as they should be. These concerns include issues of <b>ownership,</b> who controls and profits from the product, <b>responsibility,</b> who can be held accountable if technology goes awry, and frameworks for <b>regulation</b> of synthetic products. </p> |
− | <p>The limited scope with which scientists approached the <b>calculation of risk,</b> and the effects of this restricted inquiry, was identified by Eben as a major issue in the field. The impacts on groups apart from humans, on the environment, plant, and animal species, due to unexpected side-effects of technologies, should be more thoroughly investigated, <i>‘trying to do imaginative work, speculative work is what needs to be done at the risk assessment phase… we need to start thinking more creatively, outside of the box’.</i> Risk assessment should be performed not only by regulatory bodies, but by the scientists themselves. Thoroughly evaluating and balancing the risks and benefits at the research level would encourage conscientious practices, and hold scientists more accountable for their research.</p> | + | <p>The limited scope with which scientists approach the <b>calculation of risk,</b> and the effects of this restricted inquiry, was identified by Eben as a major issue in the field. The impacts on groups apart from humans, on the environment, plant, and animal species, due to unexpected side-effects of technologies, should be more thoroughly investigated, <i>‘trying to do imaginative work, speculative work is what needs to be done at the risk assessment phase… we need to start thinking more creatively, outside of the box’.</i> Risk assessment should be performed not only by regulatory bodies, but by the scientists themselves. Thoroughly evaluating and balancing the risks and benefits at the research level would encourage conscientious practices, and hold scientists more accountable for their research.</p> |
− | <p>The <b>external factors influencing research</b> were also an interesting point of tension discussed. Although we had not consciously realised this during the design of our project, political and economic pressures direct the progress of research in specific ways. As Matthew explained <i>‘[synthetic biology] only impacts society in as much as it’s driven by a set of social, political, and economic forces’.</i> These external forces, and the limitations or bias they enforce of directions of research, should be kept in mind when developing new technologies. Who does this research benefit? And why should it benefit this particular group? These are questions which should be addressed at the early stages of development to clearly establish the moral groundwork of technological directions.</p> | + | <p>The <b>external factors influencing research</b> were also an interesting point of tension discussed. Although we had not consciously realised this during the design of our project, political and economic pressures direct the progress of research in specific ways. As Matthew explained, <i>‘[synthetic biology] only impacts society as much as it’s driven by a set of social, political, and economic forces’.</i> These external forces, and the limitations or bias they enforce of directions of research, should be kept in mind when developing new technologies. Who does this research benefit? And why should it benefit this particular group? These are questions which should be addressed at the early stages of development to clearly establish the moral groundwork of technological directions.</p> |
| <p>In the same way they societal values influence research, technological developments also have the potential to change <b>societal structures</b> and ideals. Drawing analogies to the development of amniocentesis and the subsequent decline of down syndrome individuals in the population, Eben prompted us to consider that <i>‘We have to think forward to how emerging technologies are almost legislating what the conditions of life could and should be’.</i> As the tools of synthetic biology continues to improve, and innovations such as CRISPR/Cas9 enable gene editing not only in bacteria, but in plants and animals, classically defined <b>moral and ethical boundaries</b> begin to blur. Investigation into the reasons behind innovation should be made, and questions asked about whether products should be developed.</p> | | <p>In the same way they societal values influence research, technological developments also have the potential to change <b>societal structures</b> and ideals. Drawing analogies to the development of amniocentesis and the subsequent decline of down syndrome individuals in the population, Eben prompted us to consider that <i>‘We have to think forward to how emerging technologies are almost legislating what the conditions of life could and should be’.</i> As the tools of synthetic biology continues to improve, and innovations such as CRISPR/Cas9 enable gene editing not only in bacteria, but in plants and animals, classically defined <b>moral and ethical boundaries</b> begin to blur. Investigation into the reasons behind innovation should be made, and questions asked about whether products should be developed.</p> |
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