Team:ETH Zurich/Project/Background

From 2008.igem.org

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As usual when takling engineering projects, two main approaches can be followed: '''bottom-up''' and '''top-down'''.  
As usual when takling engineering projects, two main approaches can be followed: '''bottom-up''' and '''top-down'''.  
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In the first case we try to identify all the necessary functions for our system to work (in this case: to live). In this case we identify pathways to produce all necesary metabolites the cell needs, such as lipids, aminoacids, etc. A good example of this approach can be found in [].
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In the first case we try to identify all the necessary functions for our system to work (in this case: to live). In this case we identify pathways to produce all necesary metabolites the cell needs, such as lipids, aminoacids, etc. A good example of this approach can be found in []. The following step is to sinthesize the complete chromosome with the identified genes into an "empty" cell. This approach is beeing followed e.g. by the Craig Venter Institute [].
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The second approach starts from a working syspem (such as a well characterized strain like K12). By identifying non-essential parts of the metabolism and deleting them, we reduce the complexity of the cell.
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The second approach starts from a working syspem (such as a well characterized strain like K12). By identifying non-essential parts of the metabolism and deleting them, we reduce the complexity of the cell. Many groups are working on this method, such as the Biofrontier Laboratories [] or Scarab Genomics [].

Revision as of 19:14, 25 October 2008

Current approaches

As usual when takling engineering projects, two main approaches can be followed: bottom-up and top-down.

In the first case we try to identify all the necessary functions for our system to work (in this case: to live). In this case we identify pathways to produce all necesary metabolites the cell needs, such as lipids, aminoacids, etc. A good example of this approach can be found in []. The following step is to sinthesize the complete chromosome with the identified genes into an "empty" cell. This approach is beeing followed e.g. by the Craig Venter Institute [].


The second approach starts from a working syspem (such as a well characterized strain like K12). By identifying non-essential parts of the metabolism and deleting them, we reduce the complexity of the cell. Many groups are working on this method, such as the Biofrontier Laboratories [] or Scarab Genomics [].



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