51. Future of SynBio w/ Jay Keasling - Professor @ Berkeley
Nov 16, 2022
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Jay Keasling, Professor of Alternative Energy at UC Berkeley, discusses the history and applications of synthetic biology. Topics include engineering microbes for anti-malarial drugs, biofuels, and pharmaceutical production. They also address the importance of diversity in the sciences and the challenges of synthetic biology.
Synthetic biology has the potential to produce natural and unnatural molecules for medicine, fuels, and chemicals.
Engineering microbes can be utilized to produce essential pharmaceutical molecules, such as anti-malarial drugs, on a large scale.
Deep dives
Jay Kiesling's Background and Career Overview
Jay Kiesling, a professor at UC Berkeley, shares his background and career journey. Raised on a farm in Nebraska, he pursued a degree in chemistry and biology before transitioning into chemical engineering. With a passion for applying genetic engineering to solve global challenges, he joined Berkeley in 1992. Throughout his 30-year career, Kiesling has focused on engineering microbes to produce important molecules, such as the anti-malarial drug Artemisinin and biofuels and commodity chemicals. His research aims to address big challenges and improve people's lives.
The History and Applications of Synthetic Biology
Kiesling explains the history and concept of synthetic biology. The term was coined to describe using basic tools to create complicated biological molecules, similar to synthetic chemistry. Kiesling's early work focused on developing genetic tools to manipulate cell chemistry, leading to the production of Artemisinin, a critical anti-malarial drug, from microbes. He highlights the power of synthetic biology in producing natural and unnatural molecules and its potential for applications in medicine, fuels, and chemicals. The field has advanced significantly in the past decades, allowing for more complex bioengineering and the integration of diverse chemical processes.
Engineering Microbes for Drug Production
Kiesling shares the story of producing Artemisinin, an anti-malarial drug, through engineered microbes. His team successfully engineered yeast to produce Artemisinic acid, a precursor to Artemisinin, and collaborated with pharmaceutical companies to scale up production. The project received funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and led to the creation of Amaris, a startup that refined the process, resulting in the production of millions of malaria treatments. This achievement demonstrates the potential of engineering microbes to produce essential pharmaceutical molecules.
Future Directions in Synthetic Biology
Kiesling discusses current research and future directions in synthetic biology. He mentions recent developments, such as engineering yeast to produce the anti-cancer drug Vinblastin and creating biologically derived polycyclopropane fatty acids. He emphasizes the unique and exciting potential of biology to perform highly complex and challenging chemistry, which opens new avenues for producing novel molecules. Kiesling envisions a future where biology plays a crucial role in addressing global challenges, producing renewable fuels, developing therapeutics, and creating environmentally friendly materials.
Jay Keasling is the Philomathia Professor of Alternative Energy at the University of California, Berkeley in the Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, senior faculty scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and Chief Executive Officer of the Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI). Dr. Keasling’s research focuses on the metabolic engineering of microorganisms for degradation of environmental contaminants or for environmentally friendly synthesis of drugs, chemicals, and fuels. Keasling received a B.S. in Chemistry and Biology from the University of Nebraska and M.S. and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan, and did post-doctoral research in biochemistry at Stanford University. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Inventors.
Alix Ventures, by way of BIOS Community, is providing this content for general information purposes only. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement nor recommendation by Alix Ventures, BIOS Community, or its affiliates. The views & opinions expressed by guests are their own & their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them nor any entity they represent. Views & opinions expressed by Alix Ventures employees are those of the employees & do not necessarily reflect the view of Alix Ventures, BIOS Community, affiliates, nor its content sponsors.
Thank you for listening!
BIOS (@BIOS_Community) unites a community of Life Science innovators dedicated to driving patient impact. Alix Ventures (@AlixVentures) is a San Francisco based venture capital firm supporting early stage Life Science startups engineering biology to create radical advances in human health.
Music: Danger Storm by Kevin MacLeod (link & license)
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