Synthetic Biology and Artificial Darwinian Systems
Synthetic biology
Established by FfAME scientists a decade ago, the new field of synthetic biology seeks to use unnatural molecules to reproduce emergent behaviors from biology, including the ability to reproduce, evolve, and adapt. FfAME scientists have lead the field since its inception, generating the first fully functional artificial genetic systems, coupled artificial genetic systems with the formation of artificial proteins, and applied synthetic biology to problems in human medicine.
Artificial Darwinian systems
Under a major grant from the National Science Foundation, where the FfAME houses one of NSF's Chemical Bonding Centers, and in collaboration with scientists at the Harvard Medical School and the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, FfAME scientists are rewriting in vitro evolution strategies.