Engineering Biology Objectives & Technical Achievements
Modeling, design, and test of pathways to make molecules and products that do not exist in nature.
Engineering DNA | Biomolecular Engineering | Host Engineering | Data Science |
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Precise and automated generation of large collections of gene variants for pathway designs. |
Design of enzymes for converting unnatural substrates. At-will design of non-natural pathways for the production of novel products and materials. |
Creation of hosts suitable for the production of certain natural and synthetic molecule families. Pathway integration processes for hosts that are easy and high-throughput. Understanding of, and solutions for, product toxicity to the host. |
At-will design of non-natural pathways for the production of novel products and materials. Automated robotic screening of desired phenotypes coupled with precise analytics of desired molecules and side products. |
Novel methodologies for discovery and optimization of existing metabolic pathways in host organisms.
Engineering DNA | Biomolecular Engineering | Host Engineering | Data Science |
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Precise and automated generation of large collections of gene variants. Gene editing capabilities for diverse production organisms. |
Better enzyme and pathway design in industrial production hosts. |
Molecular tools for novel or unnatural production organisms. |
Automated robotic screening of desired phenotypes coupled with precise analytics of desired molecules and side products. Accurate prediction of gene and enzyme function for poorly annotated genomes to allow more effective bioprospecting. |
Production of biologics in organisms at economically-viable scales.
Engineering DNA | Biomolecular Engineering | Host Engineering | Data Science |
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Gene editing capabilities for diverse production organisms to ensure access to “the right tool for the job”. |
Novel biosensors that respond to cheaper and/or more efficient inducer molecules (chemical pathway “on/off switches”). Automated directed evolution of multi-gene pathways to make a single host species or strain as productive as possible (such as able to synthesize multiple products). Engineer cell consortia for orchestrated production of multiple products simultaneously. |
Engineer host organisms that grow quickly during production and more efficiently use diverse feedstocks. Conversion of side products to valuable commodities for enhancing economic value. |
Improved prediction and analysis of flux via metabolic pathways to determine maximum theoretical yields under different fermentation conditions. |
Commercialization of new types of products using bio-inspired fabrication, including engineered living materials and devices.
Engineering DNA | Biomolecular Engineering | Host Engineering | Data Science |
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Precision gene editing in vivo. Reliable and efficient delivery vectors for gene editing agents. |
Optimize pathways for the production of novel bio-polymer materials. |
Create engineered environments with three-dimensional structures and multiple cellular types ordered and arranged in a controlled manner throughout the structure. Engineer hosts with controllable “kill switches”, decreased toxic byproducts, and decreased immunogenicity (especially for biosensors for multicellular hosts and/or environments). |
Enhanced prediction of compatibility between bio-fabricated materials and hosts/environments. |