DW-TV: To talk about whether it's truly possible that microorganisms can save a city is Prof. Kristian Müller, a biologist from the University of Potsdam.
Dr. Kristian Müller: First it may sound far-fetched to save a city by micro-organisms, but if you think about the details the city is already built on wooden materials, which is biomaterial and it is known that micro-organisms can build whole mountains by calcification, so why not combine these two properties and have micro-organisms which grow on this wood and protect it. It might not be easy, but we think it might be a way to go forward and save the city.
Synthetic biology isn't new. The term has been around for a long time. As we heard in the report, there are lots of interesting ideas behind synthetic biology. But what is realistic? And how is it being applied already?
Applied is the gene technology and protein engineering, for example we have proteins for chemotherapy, like anti-bodies. We have hormones which are used for energy generation and biogas. So all these details are made already. Synthetic biology provides the means to do this faster and in a larger scale than it is done already.
How far along are we when it comes to seeing tailor-made bacteria in medicine which can help people in poorer countries combat malaria and other tropical diseases?
In this case I think bacteria are mainly used to produce therapies at a low cost which can then be used. There may be bacteria which are used for other purposes in the environment, but this is always difficult because you have to release them in an environment which needs to be strictly controlled. Nonetheless I think we are not that far away from using these for producing Artemisinin for malaria treatment.
What are the boundaries or ethical limits when it comes to synthetic biology?
First of all synthetic biology is a technology which is per se not really connected to any ethics. But the users and the consumers have to think about these limitations. I think one limit is if you talk about synthetic life, it is still life and has a sort of higher meaning or value than just organic chemistry. So we have to set limits here and not talk about living machines or things like that, because it is living. It is more than a machine.
What happens if artificial bacteria accidentally escapes the lab and gets into the natural environment?
We have several safety levels. Normally the bacteria we use in the lab do not grow outside because the use special nutrition which is not available. We have to have these sort of safety levels and the laboratory has certain safety levels and typically the organisms we use do not cause any harm. And even if they escape they would die.
Will synthetic biology be THE breakthrough in science of our time?
I think it is a major step forward to combine different disciplines and uses in a way like computers are used today so I expect significant growth in the coming years.
Dr. Kristian Müller from the Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, thank you very much.
Interview: Heather De Lisle