The Clotho System

Synthetic Biology is the next wave in genetic engineering in which biological systems are constructed ground-up to perform new and useful functions.  Moreover, synthetic biology seeks to develop a theory-grounded engineering discipline for genetic engineering.  However, the field is still in its early days, and experimentalists continue to use software and experimental tools that with few exceptions have remained unchanged in 30 years. Nevertheless, recent ideas in how to apply simulation and computer aided design, the use of grammars to allow computers to understand genetic composition, and the advent of standard assembly methods for automating DNA fabrication on the multi-gene scale have provided a new springboard for automation tools in this space." - http://www.clothocad.org/ One such tool is Clotho, a framework for computer aided design (CAD) of synthetic organisms. It constitutes an app environment (similar to an iPhone) in which contributors can program modular software which plugs into the larger system. Sharing a standardized data model, apps can pass data seamlessly from one to another and combine to perform complicated workflows including routine data entry and management; computer aided design; automated design and simulation; and sharing data.

For details and to RSVP see the BayBIFX page

Speaker: Chris Anderson

Room 106