Idea Transcript
Biodesign Challenge Curriculum Guide Biodesign Challenge has compiled some introductory readings that could be a valuable addition to your syllabus. ________________________________________________________________________ In the "Themes" folder, click on "Biodesign Basics." Will Myers Books Full Recommended Readings: Myers, William (2012). Bio Design: Nature, science, creativity. London, UK: Thames & Hudson Ltd. Summary: Bio Design examines 70 projects (concepts, prototypes and completed designs) that cover the fields of architecture, industrial processes, education, fine art, material engineering and bioengineering. This book works as an introduction and overview of relevant biodesign projects. William Myers compiles a range of projects. It is a helpful reference for students.
Myers, Williams (2015). Bio Art: Altered Realities. London, UK: Thames & Hudson Ltd. Summary: Bio Art explores the work of “bioartists,” those who work with living organisms and life processes. Bio Art is more speculative and conceptual than Bio Design, but has many interesting bioart projects to review. ________________________________________________________________________ Visions Recommended Readings: Dyson, Freeman. (2007). Our Biotech Future. The New York Review of Books. http://www.nybooks.com/articles/2007/07/19/our-biotech-future/ Summary: Essay by physicist Freeman Dyson on the future of biotechnology and how it may revolutionize our lives over the next 50 years. He presents a utopian biotech vision of the future.
Berry, Wendell. (2007). Our Biotech Future: An Exchange. The New York Review of Books. http://www.nybooks.com/articles/2007/09/27/our-biotech-future-an-exchange/ Summary: Wendell Berry, American novelist, poet, and critic, offers a counterpoint to Dyson's essay. He is not as optimistic about the future of biotechnology. Conclusion: These two texts are a introduction to the possibilities of the future of biotechnology. They introduce a dialogue around futures. ________________________________________________________________________ Synthetic Aesthetics Recommended Readings: Ginsberg, A.D, Calvert, J, Schyfter, P, Elfick, A, Endy, D. (2014). Synthetic Aesthetics: Investigating Synthetic Biology’s Designs on Nature. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. Chapter 1: Synthetic Biology: What It Is and Why It Matters by Alistair Elfick and Drew Endy. Chapter 2: Countering the Engineering Mindset: The Conflict of Art and Synthetic Biology by Oron Catts and Ionat Zurr Chapter 3: Design as the Machines Come to Life by Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg Summary: Synthetic biologists, artists, designers, and social scientists investigate synthetic biology and design through a variety of perspectives. Chapter 1 provides an overview of synthetic biology by scientists Alistair Elfick and Drew Endy. Chapter 2 is a critique of synthetic biology by leading bioartists Oron Catts and Ionat Zurr. Chapter 3 provides a synthesis of the first two chapters by Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg. ________________________________________________________________________ Speculative Fictions The speculative fictions folder is compiled as a resource to push students’ imaginations and designs 10-15 years in the future. Recommended Readings:
Shelley, M. W., & Hindle, M. (2003). Frankenstein, or, The modern Prometheus. London: Penguin Books.
Summary: This chapter is an excerpt from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. This chapter depicts a conversation between Dr. Frankenstein and his monster and explores the creator’s responsibilities to his creation. Bacigalupi, P. (2009). The Windup Girl. San Francisco: Night Shade Books. Summary: The Windup Girl is a dystopian biopunk science fiction novel. It depicts an imagined future set in the 23rd century where genetic technology dominates replaces a petroleum-based economy. The first chapter imagines a biotech factory floor. ________________________________________________________________________ Biobuilder Recommended Readings: Ingram, K, Hart, K.M., Kuldell, N, Bernstein, R. (2015). BioBuilder: Synthetic Biology in the Lab. California: O’Reilly Media, Inc. Chapter 1: Fundamentals of Synthetic Biology Chapter 2: Fundamentals of Biodesign Chapter 4: Fundamentals of Bioethics Summary: Biobuilder is a resource for hands-on activities and informative infographics on synthetic biology, and a place to discuss the challenge of engineering biological systems. It provides an introduction to synthetic biology and biodesign for those that don’t have a strong bio background. We highly recommend the Bioethics Chapter as an introduction. ________________________________________________________________________ Policy
Recommended Readings: Presidential Commission Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues (2015). New Directions: The Ethics of Synthetic Biology and Emerging Technologies. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, pg. 1-188. Summary: In response to the first bacteria created with a wholly “synthetic” genome, President Barack Obama developed the Commission to review the developing field of synthetic biology and identify appropriate ethical boundaries to maximize public benefits and minimize risks. ________________________________________________________________________ Ecological Questions Recommended Readings: Morton, Timothy. (2012) Peak Nature. Adbusters #98. http://www.adbusters.org/article/peak-nature/ Summary: Morton explores the current ecological crisis through the lens of philosophical ideas from Heidegger, Marx, Aristotle, and Hawaway. He describes an ontological shift in human awareness about climate change and how we define our world. David, A. S., Kaser, J. M., Morey, A. C., Roth, A. M., & Andow, D. A. (2013). Release of genetically engineered insects: a framework to identify potential ecological effects. Ecology and Evolution, 3(11), 4000–4015. http://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.737 Summary: A team of ecologists review the knock-on effects of introducing genetically engineered insects into the ecosystem. The piece provides scenarios on which to base the ways in which biotech can reshape ecosystems. This is a useful piece read in conjunction with articles on gene drives. ________________________________________________________________________ Cell Science Summary: This folder contains a textbook chapters that range from cell structure and function to DNA structure to cellular respiration. If students would like to delve deeper into the science, these chapters can act as starting point.
________________________________________________________________________ Biosecurity Recommended Readings: Balmer, A.S., Martin, P. (2008). Synthetic Biology: Social and Ethical Challenges. Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. Summary: The report of an independent review of social and ethical challenges associated with research into, and the application of, synthetic biology,has just been published. Synthetic biology seeks to apply the principles of engineering to biological systems and processes. Scientists believe that it may lead to new applications, such as new energy production systems, medical therapies, biological computers and innovative ways to clean up hazardous waste. ________________________________________________________________________ Social Science Social Science is a very large folder, but is by no means exhaustive. Topics in this folder range from medical ethics to genes and race and identity. Depending on your theme, these articles can be a nice addition to give students a social context for these their designs. Recommended Readings: Foucault, Michel. (1990). Part Five: Right of Death and Power over Life. The History of Sexuality Volume 1: An Introduction. Trans. Robert Hurley. New York: Vintage Books. 135-159. Print. Summary: Foucault’s “History of Sexuality” Part 5 suggests two major forms of “bio-power” -the discipline of the body and regulation of the population. Klaassen, P., Kupper, F., Rijnen, M., Vermeulen, S., & Broerse, J. (2014). Policy Brief on the state of art on RRI and a working definition of RRI. Responsible Research and Innovation Summary: A short introduction to the field of Responsible Research and Innovation.