The Application of Platform-Based Design to Embedded Electronics and Synthetic Biological Systems (Video 2/26/2009)

Watch Video
From the Series: CSE Colloquia - 2009 Produced by: University of Washington
02/26/2009

Description:
This talk will outline Platform Based Design techniques as they relate to both embedded electronics and synthetic biology. Platform-Based Design is a design methodology within Computer Aided Design which at its core promotes the separation of functionality from implementation. Rigorous and formal applications of PBD have been shown to be very useful in the design of embedded electronic systems. This work has manifested itself in the development of the Polis, Metropolis, and Metro II design environments at UC Berkeley. PBD's true power lies in its ability to cross into new application areas. Download Video as MP4

The Royal Academy of Engineering's MAY 2009 Report on Synthetic Biology

Click here to download the PDF
"This report aims to define the term ‘synthetic biology’, review the state of the field and consider potential future developments and their likely technological, economic and societal impact. It will also attempt to assess the requirements for the development of the field and to identify key policy issues."

The following is a summary of the central themes and issues that the report
has investigated, and the resulting recommendations.

Defining synthetic biology
We define synthetic biology thus:
“Synthetic biology aims to design and engineer biologically based parts, novel
devices and systems as well as redesigning existing, natural biological systems.”
This definition, while maintaining a certain level of simplicity, expresses the key
aspects of synthetic biology. It is consistent with the views of most researchers
in the field (both in the UK and abroad) and those of The Royal Academy of
Engineering. Synthetic biology strives to make the engineering of biology easier and more predictable.

Current activity and applications
There is considerable activity in a number of areas including health, energy, the
environment, agriculture and applications in other industrial sectors.
A synthetic version of the anti-malarial drug artemisinin is being developed
using synthetic biology methods. This makes it amenable to large scale
industrial production - if successful, it will have a major impact on the
treatment of malaria in the developing world. The cost of treatment should be
low as the development of the drug is being funded by the Gates Foundation.

Journal Article (Free Full Text): Opportunities for microfluidic technologies in synthetic biology

Opportunities for microfluidic
technologies in synthetic biology
"We introduce microfluidics technologies as a key foundational technology for synthetic biology experimentation. Recent advances in the field of microfluidics are reviewed and the potential of such a technological platform to support the rapid development of synthetic biology solutions is discussed." Published online before print May 27, 2009

1. Full TextFree
2. Full Text (PDF)Free

This is the end

Okay I'm all blogged out. If anyone is still reading this then here are a couple of end of quarter wrap up announcements.

• The last lectures are now up as pdf files on the right hand side. I think the only one missing is the first part of today.
• The answers to the ecology quiz I handed out are here with a few comments.
  
• For Thursday remember YOU are presenting. Don't make it a lecture, make it INTERESTING (oops, that didn't sound right). Remember you are supposed to be passionate about this so tell us something cool you investigated.
  

xkcd

Dwindling Phosphorus Supplies

The world’s supply of phosphorus for agricultural fertilizers is dwindling, according to a recent article in Scientific American. Global reserves are expected to run out in about 100 years unless new reserves are found or better techniques are developed for extracting phosphate from phosphate-rich rock.

As phosphorus supplies decline and as the world demand for agricultural fertilizers grows, we can expect fertilizer price spikes, phosphate shortages, and perhaps even disruption of food production. Countries with large phosphorus reserves such as Morocco will benefit economically. Morocco could be among the wealthiest nations in the world in 50-100 years.

Bioswale

On Friday I thought I'd post something about the bioswales at Manzanita village that I briefly mentioned in class. However I couldn't actually find any particularly good links online.

Today I open 93106, the weekly faculty and staff newspaper to find an article about the restoration project and the bioswales - Restoration Project Provides Model for Future Environmental Efforts.

The principal challenge of the restoration was creating an ecologically functional habitat in such close proximity to an urban environment. If untreated, fertilizers from the courtyard lawns and seagull guano from the residence hall roofs are washed into the ocean and nearby lagoon during rainstorms. This can cause algal blooms that are unsightly and can smother the fish.

CCBER used the excess nutrients in the water to its advantage by creating bioswales — vegetated channels that use plants to purify water runoff before it flows into the nearby lagoon. More than 1,300 feet of bioswales treat some 75 percent of Manzanita’s storm water runoff.