Synthetic Biology and Genomics Applications

The video discusses the transition from reading to writing genetic code, highlighting the rapid advancements in genomics over the past decade. It covers the Sorcerer II Expedition's efforts to explore microbial diversity in oceans and the discovery of new genes and species. The talk delves into synthetic genomics, the creation of artificial chromosomes, and potential applications in energy and environmental solutions. Ethical considerations and the potential for bio-terrorism are also addressed.

What significant change in genomics is highlighted in the introduction?

• The sequencing of the human genome

• The discovery of new human pathogens

• The ability to write genetic code

• The ability to read genetic code faster

What was a surprising discovery from the Sorcerer II Expedition?

• The presence of visual pigments in deep-sea organisms

• The discovery of 1.3 million new genes from a single seawater sample

• The absence of viruses in seawater

• The lack of diversity in oceanic microbes

What is the main challenge in synthesizing accurate DNA?

• Finding the right environmental conditions

• Synthesizing large pieces of DNA accurately

• Identifying essential genes

• Sequencing the DNA of viruses

What potential application of synthetic cells is mentioned?

• Producing synthetic oil

• Capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

• Developing new antibiotics

• Creating new species of plants

What was the outcome of the bioethical review conducted before starting synthetic biology experiments?

• It prohibited the creation of artificial species

• It allowed the experiments to proceed with caution

• It found no ethical concerns

• It delayed the experiments indefinitely