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Research

Biological systems - including the simplest cells - exhibit a broad range of functions to thrive in their environment. Research in the Imperial College Centre for Synthetic Biology is focused on the possibility of engineering the underlying biochemical processes to solve many of the challenges facing society, from healthcare to sustainable energy. In particular, we model, analyse, design and build biological and biochemical systems in living cells and/or in cell extracts, both exploring and enhancing the engineering potential of biology.

As part of our research we develop novel methods to accelerate the celebrated Design-Build-Test-Learn synthetic biology cycle. As such research in the Centre for Synthetic Biology highly multi- and interdisciplinary covering computational modelling and machine learning approaches; automated platform development and genetic circuit engineering ; multi-cellular and multi-organismal interactions, including gene drive and genome engineering; metabolic engineering; in vitro/cell-free synthetic biology; engineered phages and directed evolution; and biomimetics, biomaterials and biological engineering.

Publications

Citation

BibTex format

@article{Gowers:2019:10.3390/genes10110902,
author = {Gowers, G-O and Vince, O and Charles, J-H and Klarenberg, I and Ellis, T and Edwards, A},
doi = {10.3390/genes10110902},
journal = {Genes},
pages = {1--10},
title = {Entirely off-grid and solar-powered DNA sequencing of microbial communities during an ice cap traverse expedition},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/genes10110902},
volume = {10},
year = {2019}
}

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RIS format (EndNote, RefMan)

TY - JOUR
AB - Microbial communities in remote locations remain under-studied. This is particularly true on glaciers and icecaps, which cover approximately 11% of the Earth’s surface. The principal reason for this is the inaccessibility of most of these areas due to their extreme isolation and challenging environmental conditions. While remote research stations have significantly lowered the barrier to studying the microbial communities on icecaps, their use has led to a bias for data collection in the near vicinity of these institutions. Here, miniaturisation of a DNA sequencing lab suitable for off-grid metagenomic studies is demonstrated. Using human power alone, this lab was transported across Europe’s largest ice cap (Vatnajökull, Iceland) by ski and sledge. After 11 days of unsupported polar-style travel, a metagenomic study of a geothermal hot spring gorge was conducted on the remote northern edge of the ice cap. This tent-based metagenomic study resulted in over 24 h of Nanopore sequencing, powered by solar power alone. This study demonstrates the ability to conduct DNA sequencing in remote locations, far from civilised resources (mechanised transport, external power supply, internet connection, etc.), whilst greatly reducing the time from sample collection to data acquisition.
AU - Gowers,G-O
AU - Vince,O
AU - Charles,J-H
AU - Klarenberg,I
AU - Ellis,T
AU - Edwards,A
DO - 10.3390/genes10110902
EP - 10
PY - 2019///
SN - 2073-4425
SP - 1
TI - Entirely off-grid and solar-powered DNA sequencing of microbial communities during an ice cap traverse expedition
T2 - Genes
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/genes10110902
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/10/11/902
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/74867
VL - 10
ER -