Can synthetic biology save the planet?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 พ.ค. 2024
- Step inside the lab using synthetic biology to design with DNA, all in the hopes of saving Planet Earth.
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Humanity’s impact on the Earth is massive.
Arable land is transformed for agriculture; plastics litter the planet; the very atmosphere is warming with carbon emissions and greenhouse gases, hotboxing all of us.
But what if solutions to these complex problems could be found in the very building blocks of life itself?
This is why Ginkgo Bioworks exists: to provide the platform that allows innovators and entrepreneurs to work with biology, to make everything from plastic-munching microbes to better beauty products.
Watch on Freethink.com ► www.freethink.com/science/syn...
This video was created in partnership with Ginkgo Bioworks.
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Weed’s “superpower” could help feed the planet
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Swiss team sets new world record for solar power
► www.freethink.com/environment...
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For more details on how synthetic biology works, check out our companion article at www.freethink.com/science/dna-for-climate-change.
Incredible story of these two female founders; all our support!
I just finished an Internship working on GMO algae used for biofuels. The work is very cool and inspiring. GMO algae can produce oils at an extremely high rate from photosynthesis and could feasibly replace fossil fuels by becoming price competitive at scale. My lab focused on making the algae perform better at higher temperatures as the global averages increase. Beyond that, the plant technology being developed in a broad sense will solve many problems, from faster growing trees, to plants that don’t need harmful fertilizer. These technologies are all being pursued carefully at the nonprofit that I worked for, The Danforth Plant Science Center.
But most likely not in time to address the current climate crisis. Oil from algal blooms is still oil. And oil pollution is a horrible impact on our climate. your wonder algae won't change this fact
Algae and cyanobacteria are too slow growing and low yielding compared to yeasts and bacteria, they literally have a hard thermodynamic wall that limits their applicability to solve big issues. I don't think they're an economically viable chassis if for commodties in a bioreactor context. I think non-GMO marine macroalgae have potential as a feedstock among other things.
My msc research was focused on culturable lipase producing bacteria from 2 local Hotsprings in Zimbabwe.
In line with producing biofuels from algal blooms or algae, one might need to utilise bacteria that can utilise the normal non free oxygen as electron acceptors, and the carbon is converted to oil. This will be good as some of the biomass of the algal bloom will be used for the increase of bacterial cell concentrations. Where the bacterial cells after producing our oil can be used as food stuff.
@@derekcraig3617 algal oil is better than fossil oil in the sense that, the carbon found in most cyanobacteria, algae and other phototrophs the carbon that will be in the lipids that will eventually be used to make the oil is originally atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Noble intentions can lead to unintended consequences
I can see this as a universally useful tool. I think it's important to see this as a key to solving many problems rather than a key to a risk-free solution in geoengineering climate change.
this feels like a scripted sales pitch,
The huge problem with that is that we are FAR too unable to understand the consequences of designing new lifeforms. That is not to say we should not do it, but we should be very, very careful with it. Not just: hey, here is a harmful substances in a landfill, let's just release a bioengineered bacterium to get rid of it.
But “they” won’t be careful with it 🤷🏼♀️
It's a very important point. For what it's worth, Gingko is working with the government organization IARPA (the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity), Ginkgo Bioworks is developing software that can be used to monitor DNA synthesis. They describe it like a "malware detector in computer programming - ‘programs’ being written in synthetic DNA will go through the detector software, which will flag any sequences of concern before they are synthesized,” and hope to predict if a genetic sequence can be used for harm using the same technology that could predict if a genetic enzyme could make something beneficial.
But of course--that is not a guarantee. There is always risk and it is important to exercise care like you say. www.freethink.com/science/dna-for-climate-change
@@fauxmedia3182 "They" are tho. The amount of regulations regarding GMOs is mind boggling.
Coming from a biochemist, cheers
@@freethink bs
I would love to see this applied to something, idk if this is CRISPRR but I know that's very similar, I just wish to see someone actually create a solution to some of these problems affecting the world and see them spread and be adopted at a global scale. I know I'm asking a lot but damn I just wish someone would make these solutions easy. It's a shame theres not enough attention in this direction when there really is an insane amount of potential for change here. People want big shiny solutions that grab their attention, something new and flashy in their face or they just wont pay it much attention. Hopefully I'm wrong about that and something will catch the worlds attention here. First there needs to be the invention/product and the there needs to be market adoption
If they don't know how it works exaclty, how can they be sure no negative effects will occur (on the long term). Somewhat like building a bridge without knowledge of the mechanics involved.
that’s the whole point of research
@@uhkeyy4144 Yes = research that is paid for and then all results are just great when they are really not SCIENCE is not science anymore its bought
experimebtation in large scale is indeed groundbreaking
There have been just a few minor studies into different kinds of fungi and their ability to absorb and make toxic materials, nontoxic. Mushrooms could be a lot more than just garnish on pizza or salads but more research needs to be done to see how viable they can be.
This is cool, I'm a more classically trained molecular biologist and I have spent months or years making genetically engineered micro organisms the old fashioned way. To be honest I always suspected it could be done better. Having hung out with plenty of biologists I'm not surprised that now engineers, computer scientists and physicists are getting into biology and taking it places.
My only issue with this facility is I'm not sure how it will be used to solve environmental problems. I suspect it would be amazing for developing new drugs and industrial chemicals.
Deep learning algorithms with the subject in "mind" and a partially sentient mind frame would make the process go faster,have less errors and have a higher success rate for your platforms big or small.There are no rules just blurry dotted lines
I'm quite conflicted about this. Yes, the intention is admirable, but biological organisms have a way of disregarding borders, whether they be borders between jurisdictions or borders made of glass and cement. Aside from the ethical and political questions concerning who gets to let novel man-made biological systems loose on the planet and who gets to deal with the fallout if it fails, I also feel like this isn't exactly solving the core problem of our disregard for natural processes and how our impact on the planet is amplified by overpopulation. Essentially, we aren't forced, by way of a systemic collapse, to rethink our ways of life on this planet. From a technical standpoint though, sure, it's fascinating.
Yeah it's as if we hadnt learned our lesson with covid lol.
I kind of like: stop burning fossil fuels?! Naaaah, let's just capture the co2 and store it underground.
@@mael1515 Trees, plant some trees
I feel like these people have very little respect for what they are messing with. One more great filter for the Fermi paradox imo.
@@josephnarvaez9507 I fear we are beyond this point, but it sure would not hurt. If they are the right trees in the right place. Meaning: able to survive the changes to come.
The Kids are alright !!
Go Ladies !
Bravo !
🌎☮️
I think sometime we need a random person of the street and see if they can give a way maybe they can help with a certain scientific problem from there basic knowledge because sometimes the most simplest answer is the best and we might just not be looking at them
Amazing video! Happy to see Gingko Bioworks is spreading like wildfire now! #iBelieve
Glad you liked it!
Terrific voice!!!
New solution solves old problems but always creates new issue...it's a continuous process. Even synthetic biology will have it's own side-effects. But it's ok, our future generations will take care of it
can't wait to shovel bread into a biological car for it to run
agree. systemic change and elimination of capitalism is what is needed.
@@solarpunkalana and with what are we going to replace it?
Biloba PicoGenetics (long hexametric eigenpermutation) (subnano acoustic SASER tweezer)
Just like possibilities are endless with programming. (good/bad) possibilities will be endless with this tech too(good/bad)
Isnt this very far out in the future, this is more like Fusion technology all they say is we are very close, but never there.
I've thought about this a lot. It's so incredibly fascinating. As a future nurse, I'm most interested in the health related applications: curing major diseases, regenerating organs and reversing aging etc. But in other areas like energy production, food production, waste recycling, reversing pollution the possibilities are endless as well. It gives me real hope for the future.
I does not give me hope for the future as everything is about money and NOT about safety.....
"Engines of Creation" starts here?
Great work 🥳 Thank you 💜
Hey, what could go wrong? Things always work out for us when we mess with things over our heads.
Caesar is coming!
3:13 😆
So what are they doing exactly? I don't get it.. 🤷🏻♂
So DNA linearly encodes proteins. Proteins are tiny industrial machines which do a thing (typically catalyze s chemical reaction). Say I want a protein that can detect a specific molecule (as the woman said who wanted a biosensor). I probably have a starting point, a known natural protein which binds a similar molecule to my target. I can take that DNA sequence and tweak it, systematically to encode a different protein. This is very time consuming. Your typical protein will contain 2-300 amino acids and you want to change your DNA code to change each of those amino Acids for a different one. Each version of the protein encoding gene can be called a clone. As at each of the amino acid positions (all 2-300 of them) you can put any one of the 20 common amino acids the number of clones you can generate quickly escalates. And that's before you've started adjusting the size of the protein. I think this facility uses robots to make millions of clones of specific proteins and then tests them to see if they are better or worse at the job they are tasked with.
Casually says: "We then print the DNA". Now that's just wicked. I personally believe that biology has a very significant future, I'll go so far as to say it has to have a significant future. Despite the risks, it's not like how we currently do things is very sustainable and risk free
If excess CO2 from human activity is causing global warming, how did an ice sheet 3 1/2 miles thick on top of North America melt before the Industrial Revolution ?
If only there was a giant report put together from over a hundred different countries' climate science research organizations...oh wait, there is. The latest IPCC reports might have the answer to your questions.
@@Vaeldarg So....you don't know the answer? Are you implying the IPCC has answered my question ? What is the answer?
@@quaoar213 It sounds like you're looking for an excuse to avoid learning just how wrong you've been. Why even pretend you'll listen to an answer that comes from what you'll disregard as a random youtube commenter? It would be a lot harder to disregard the credibility of those behind the report, after all.
@@Vaeldarg Ive spent the past decade learning about paleoclimatology along with many other fields of science which relate to the subject, including sociol psycology. If you understand anything, you can explain it. Obviously you don't . I know the answer, and it is not in a IPCC report. Have you researched how and who generates the IPCC reports? ... better yet, here is a better question... if the IPCC is tasked with saving the world, why havent they used the trillion dollars tbey have collected through carbon tax and build a renewable energy infrastructure?
DONT get me wrong, I also think fossil fuels should be a thing of the past. My main concern is the future and avoiding a society unprepared for what is to come.
@@Vaeldarg Belief is the death of intelligence. Science doesn't require belief to exist, it requires data. More accurately ALL OF THE DATA must be considered without bias. The IPCC , who are not scientists are creating policies and laws based on a very small percentage of the data available.
People thought AI hype was dead not too long ago. Look at where we are now.
I think the same will go with the biotech/synbio sector.
Then when AI and biotech explode together… 🤯 it’ll definitely be interesting to live in this time
Bold of you to assume that anyone will live in that kind of the world
🧬
2:10 most awkward Laugh I heard on a long time
Who decides if the Ginkgo platform is being used for a good reason? How does engineering beauty products go towards saving the planet? I'm concerned about the spin in this story, that this platform has been developed to 'save the planet' but at the same time is available for all users is contradictory.
Its all about money
Science will be the sole savior of humanity
Or it will destroy us
It could but it won't 🌝
10 years ago synthetic biology was the next big thing. Amateur biohacking labs were opening all around the world, their was talks about making biohacking competitions for enthusiasts, communities forming in the west around the concept... I was hoping this documentary would at least address the state of the technology today in contrast to the pre-existing rush.
Since this is the only documentary on the topic I could find in 2022, I get the feeling the hype is dead.
The start of the end of all lifeforms... That's how powerful this can be. Crispr ultimate - Designer gene from scratch.
Oh my God, this could be the last thought of our creator. Self-replicating terminators by accident or not.
Make a dinosaur
3:52
Humanity needs a standard way of living., like living as one with the Earth!
No need for the corrupted illusory egos that disrupt our daily lives with the need for control over others.
Imagine an advanced species that are incapable of killing as a form of punishment, but rather invoke banishment the way matriarchal mares do in the wild when individuals act up.
Severity of the act must be taken into account of course.
What is being missed by the majority due to lack of self-realization, is that "god" is a fertilized 🥚 and the light from that conception from within a higher vibrational realm, unfathomable to an awareness identifying as a human animal, is what is briefly housed within seeds that are mislabeled as Souls that in turn allow animation of flesh to take place.
The number of "Souls" that exist within a single body that allow "you" within "your" shell to occupy and animate "your" body, is innumerable.
All of this light emanating from within is in turn coded with numerous bits of information/data acquired while existing in flesh forms made of minerals, fungi, vegetation and animal.
Everything "your" body consumes, not only comes from the same source, but also contains the same seeds filled with the same light that makes up all awarenesses.
What really sucks though is when a thread of awareness that stems from a newly conceived "god" awakens to find its self treading the seas of ignorance within its still developing self so far from completion! By the way from out of the messages shared by real, authentic enlightened awarenesses comes the birth of religion, theism, atheism, agnosticism, paganism, satanism blah blah blah blah blah!
If "you" are still identifying as an ape or a not so great ape😂, then I recommend studying physics and psychology.
These two paths will come together to lead "you" to philosophy, at least with some individuals and from there "you" can spend the next several thousand lifetimes perfecting "your" character!
Be forewarned though., it's a bumpy ride!🤣
oo ooo human like science buzzword like video
Using sentient things to solve climate change is kind of a bad idea because sentient things have a tendency to break out and just do their own thing, unlless they're used in very niche cases where cause and effects are fully understood and manageable.
I would love to go to school to study this stuff. But my fear always had been that there's no money invested into it. So you'd be forced to be a drain on the public system by applying for grant money.
Plus it's a multidisciplinary approach. You have to be a computer scientist and a biologist, two very distant disciplines.
So instead I just made my life mission into building a greenhouse that I can live in. Maybe someday a genetically modified fruit tree could live in there.
🧠🧠🧠🧠🧠
🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯
Synthetic biology for the commons! Good idea 😨
Cool video. But the title will need to be different….climate change cannot be beaten. It is a natural cycle of the earth and sun as well as the solar system.
You seem confused about the timescales involved. You might want to look at the IPCC climate change reports.
Wasn Ginkgo a huge Scam or something ? 😮
fix climate ? naah how abt we build resilience ! 🤦🏽♂️
A-C-G-T simple elegant design created by an Omnipotent Intelligence.
you know how theres like horror stories about you know like synthetic bacteria or grey goo or whatever youd like to call it, ending humanity? you people really arent smart enough to mess with this kind of stuff
We'd be utterly stupid to give up on this just because somebody wrote some scary stories. People were once scared of electricity too, you know.
I see nothing going wrong with this 🙄
this was basically just a word salad. totally meaningless with affirmations of a vague futuristic utopia
Oh boy, synthetic bacteria on plants. And then people ingesting these bacteria infested food. This is pure playing with fire.
You’ve been ingesting plant-fertilizing bacteria all your life along your veggies. Nothing would grow without nitrogen-fixing bacteria and nitrifying bacteria constantly fertilizing the soil for plant life.
But those developed over millions of years through random mutation, trial and error.
Meanwhile, synthetically made bacteria just skip the random mutation part to repopulating “dead” soil and non-arable land.
In the end, people in really dry countries could grow their own food and we might even save the rainforest if we could somehow “treat” land that was “sucked dry” by monocultures and turn that land into arable land once again.
It really is not as doom and gloom as you think!
But this video is really more about engineered organic life like bacteria doing the heavy lifting for us in making some really expensive and complex chemical processes pretty much automated.
Yeah well, most of what we're being told is a bunch of lies anyway.
There are channels on TH-cam dedicated to debunking these kinds of propositions.
EVERYTHING DOESN'T NEED A SHORTCUT AND TIME-SAVING.....specially when it comes to what's going to reside in our tummies for a while??? These upcoming technology based-products involve mechanical approach & do not even contain the nutrition you eat for. Even if they start the production holding the nutritious values, processing and additives to the the animal stem cells to finally taste like the real steaks and meat, will be like eating a dead organism's meat whos genetic make up was still underdeveloped.... please search for the concept of stem cells , they are good for treatment of various diseases like Arthritis and cancers....and are still under research even to be used for cure... and here they want you to eat them just for their PROFITS....and most of all , there will be more Cancers and mysterious diseases in future generations.
Let's mention sin as a cause of "global warming" you have been warned.
Sin, lol. Tell me more!
@@pitbulllove2209 Well God said He is going to melt the elements and burn the earth to a crisp because of sin, you know pride, anger, lust, gluttony, sloth, vanity, and envy. God really hates sin and is going to destroy the earth. over our sin. Remember Sodom and Gomorrah. LOL!
Liars.