Repurposing an Alien Technology: Synthetic Biology

Imagine you just crash-landed on an alien planet. The leading organisms that inhabited it have somehow disappeared. However, their remnants still exist. All around, you find advanced alien technology. Unlike your clanky metal spaceship, this alien tech is biological and goopy! It is alien algae repurposing solar power, fungi manufacturing chemicals, and stick-legged animals creating silk that is stronger than Kevlar! You are bewildered! Surely, some of this tech could get you back home! Except you don’t know how any of it works! Your goal, if you choose it, is to understand this alien tech, and repurpose it to survive!

Described above is the classical experience of a synthetic biologist. He/she first tries to understand biology and then engineers it for specific utility.

This session will introduce the field of Synthetic Biology, what it entails, how it developed, and some of its ongoing projects. In the words of Feynmann: “What I cannot create, I do not understand!”

About the Speaker:

Moeez Ahmed Khan is a synthetic biologist, now based at Imperial College London. Moeez’s research focuses on constructing super-spreading genes that can be used for Malaria eradication. His work involves synthetic biology, genetic engineering, classical genetics, developmental biology, and entomology. Moeez has a bachelor’s in Molecular Genetics from King’s College London, a Master’s in Synthetic Biology from University College London, and is due to graduate with a PhD from the Royal Veterinary College. He also has 7 years of experience in science communication, having worked closely with the social enterprise; Science Fuse and his own organization; Genes and Machines. Genes and Machines aims to inculcate curiosity for the life sciences amongst young Pakistanis.

This session is free and open to all. Just visit the venue to attend it.

The Black Hole
Plot 5H, Street 100, G-11/3, Islamabad.
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