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13.8

Using the Language of Life Technically with the Help

of Synthetic Biology

These are all promising properties for our new nanocellulose chips. But it is not at all

important to produce this new generation of bio-enhanced computer chips exactly the

same way, but the great direction should be explored as intensively as possible in research

to solve current problems of computer technology and electronics in a very sustainable,

environmentally friendly, flexible, faster and better way than before. A current, simpler

example than the nanocellulose chip shown above with new optogenetically switched

enzymes and DNA as the storage medium is to achieve sustainable electronics by continu­

ing to use commercially available electronic components and memory chips, but printing

them thinly on nanocellulose paper in a much more environmentally friendly way than

before (but still using electronic waste as opposed to above) (Jung et al. 2015). Another

interesting marriage of electronics and proteins is electrically modifiable proteins (Ganesan

et al. 2016; Hekstra et al. 2016). Even more generally, this is called synthetic biology,

which we have already learned about. Biological molecules are recombined, allowing

them to achieve new, technically desirable properties. As mentioned above, it can be prob­

lematic to create new organisms with new properties, since such organisms are capable of

reproduction. On the one hand, beer as well as bread and cheese have been produced with

biotechnologically bred organisms for centuries, i.e. with the help of organisms systemati­

cally genetically modified through breeding. But since this has been going on for centu­

ries, it is perceived by the population as “natural” (a bit irrational). On the other hand,

however, the potential danger posed by radically new synthetic organisms (such as new

viruses, fusion of very different cell types, etc.) is already significantly higher than that

posed by centuries-old biotechnology. However, since typical synthetic biology processes

focus on design rather than on a whole organism, there are of course ways and means of

keeping the risks within limits. The safest way is simply to use parts of an organism. These

can then achieve new properties, but are not themselves capable of reproduction. One can

also deliberately incorporate further control steps (as explained above with the BLUF

domains).

Some useful links on the topic of synthetic biology are presented again below (see box).

This shows above all that there are many efforts in this field that are innovative and often

already relatively successful.

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13.8  Using the Language of Life Technically with the Help of Synthetic Biology