Team:Bordeaux/Integrated Practices

Sleep with EpiC elegans

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What is the synthetic biology?

Synthetic biology is part of your daily life and you might not even know it. It is present in sectors such as the industry, health, energy or even agriculture.

But what is synthetic biology?

Synthetic biology appeared in the XXth century. It is one of the fields that studies life sciences. It blends knowledge from fields such as biology, genetics, chemistry and engineering disciplines (mathematics models and computer simulations in particular).
Synthetic biology ensures the creation of reliable biological systems with complex functions.

These approaches are used in research to solve mysteries that surround certain mechanisms, but also in the industry where organisms are genetically modified in order to provide a molecule of interest. For example, antibodies used in the vaccine Lymphoma© are produced in large-scale quantities in the tobacco plant.
Two major approaches exist :

• the “top-down” approach consists in simplifying a pre-existant biological system to understand it's basic functioning. For example, removing chaperoning proteins allows visualization of the effects of a damaged protein in a metabolic pathway.
  Chaperonins are proteins that are found in a cell and that ensure the correct folding of other proteins, an essential step for a smooth functioning of these proteins in the cell.
• The “bottom-up” approach consists in building bio-bricks, which are DNA segments that where modified from synthetic or existing sequences with defined functions in an organism. These new sequences are then assembled, like a Lego game, and the functions in the newly obtained biological system are observed. This procedure is applied by thousands of researchers and students, notably during the annual International Genetically Engineered Machine or iGEM contest.

What are the tools used in synthetic biology?

Amongst the key tools used in synthetic biology, need to be mentioned DNA sequencing and bio-computer sciences. The combination of these two techniques allow, for example, to identity positions and functions of a gene of interest. Huge databases are available, namely the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and Protein Data Bank (PDB), that compose an essential source of information when setting up a synthetic biology project.

Synthetic Biology can be used to create biofuel

What is the use of synthetic biology?

Synthetic biology has allowed many advancements. A first example is the modification of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (beer yeast) in order to increase the production of artemisinic acid, the precursor involved in the anti-malaria treatment (High-level semi-synthetic production of the potent antimalarial artemisinin, Nature, 2013). This permitted a reduction by half of the costs and an increase in the treatment availability. A second example is the production of hydrocarbon. Genes in E.coli where modified and permitted the synthesis of a bio-fuel (Escherichia coli Genetic engineering of Escherichia coli for biofuel production, 2010). Its metabolism was then improved to produce these hydrocarbons in greater quantities.

In conclusion

The field of synthetic biology is currently expanding, especially in France, in the United States and in Japan. It gives high hopes for numerous industrial applications in the fields of health (more efficient therapies), energy (bio-fuels), materials, the environment (waste management) and agriculture (soil adapted crops). Full of promises, synthetic biology has proved itself, but still has a long way ahead of itself.
The most recent advancement of synthetic biology goes back to March 25 th 2016. An article published in Sciences caused an uproar in the world of synthetic biology. Indeed, a team in the United States built a bacteria cell with only the minimum genes necessary for sustaining the cell in a live state. This study is a huge step forward in the understanding of the functions of numerous genes.

Linejy & Maurene – iGEM Bordeaux

How does memory work?

From March 14th to 18th 2016, in Bordeaux, took place the week dedicated to the brain with numerous workshops, film projections, and conferences. In order to correctly honor the human brain, its incredible talent – memorization – must be mentioned.

But what is memory? It is our brain's capacity to store information concerning past events, with the aim of recalling them later if necessary. This is why we feel at ease with known people or in a familiar environment.

There are two types of memory. The first one, called immune memory, is associated with the immune system. When our body is attacked by a foreign entity, a virus for example, our immune system stores its characteristics and the actions that were taken to fight it off. In case of a re-infection by this same entity, our immune memory allows a more rapid and more efficient response.
The second one, called cerebral memory, can be split in three major categories:

• sensory memory stores information gathered thanks to our five senses (vision, audition, smell, touch, taste)
• short term memory allows us to act thanks to our brain's analysis of collected sensory information from the outside world. A typical example is wincing when recognizing a foul smell. This memory can only hold seven different information simultaneously and has a short life span. For example, the digits in a telephone number are only stored for a couple of minutes.
• long term memory stores knowledge and general culture, as well as repeated actions (for example riding a bike or knitting)

Biologically speaking, memory is the creation of a connection between two brain cells, called neurons. An electric signal is transmitted from the pre-synaptic neuron along the axon to the synaptic button, where a chemical molecule – a neurotransmitter – is released. These molecules such as acetylcholine cross the synaptic cleft between the two neurons, then bind to the receptors on the surface of the post-synaptic neuron. The chemical signal is then transformed into an electric signal again.

Memory depends on multiple factors such as age, gender and genes. Indeed, memorization is easier before 30 years-old because our capacity to concentrate is better. Memory disorders can appear with age or be the consequence of pathologies such as a stroke or Alzheimer's disease. However, in many cases, cerebral plasticity allows a partial or total recovery of souvenirs. It is even possible to improve one's memory. “Intelligent” drugs increase blood surges to the brain and release chemical substances there, improving concentration. But playing memory games, using keys words, or eating foods enriched in unsaturated omega-3 such as tuna or oysters, can be equally effective.

Memory is therefore a very complex process that uses billions of neurons. In our daily lives, it is constantly sought out for by our body and our need to recall previously stored information. The proverb “Even if you lost your head, you've still got your feet to do the work” proves our memory must be nurtured. Thus, remember to exercise your brain and memory from time to time in order to be at your best!

Maurene – iGEM Bordeaux

How does sleep work?

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