Synthetic Genomics

Smith, H. O., Hutchison, C. A. Ill, Pfannkoch, C., and Venter, J. C. (2003). Generating a synthetic genome by whole genome assembly phiX174 bacteriophage from synthetic oligonucleotides. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA, 100, 15440-5. 

Algae s potential as a source of biofuel got a big boost from an unlikely source in 2009. ExxonMobil announced plans to invest 300 million or more in San Diego, California-based Synthetic Genomics, a company headed by genome pioneer Craig Venter. 

Research and Engineering Company partnered with a start-up company, Synthetic Genomics, to find strains of photosynthetic algae that will efficiently produce oils and hydrocarbons from sunlight and carbon dioxide. 

ExxonMobil has invested 600 million in algae technology and this is the boldest move made by the industry so far. In partnership with Synthetic Genomics, the algae cells have been engineered to secrete the triglyceride oil. This means the oil floats on top of the culture vessels so there is no need to harvest the algae [19]. 

Synthetic genomics has made it possible to design and assemble chromosomes and genes and gene pathways, which may be used in creating green biofuels, pharmaceuticals, and vaccines. 

Gibson, D. G., et al. Reation of a Bacterial Cell Controlled by a Chemically Synthesized Genome. Science Express (May 20, 2010). Announces the creation of a self-replicating bacterial cell governed by a synthetic genome. 

The author would like to thank the Synthetic Biology Group at JCVI for the helpful discussions and Synthetic Genomics, Inc. for funding this work. 

The author thanks Vladimir Larionov at the National Institutes of Health for the gift of yeast strains and vectors and Clyde Hutchison for helpful comments. This work was supported by Synthetic Genomics, Inc. 

Another example of algae-based research was announced in July 2009, when ExxonMobil announced a joint venture with Synthetic Genomics Inc. to investigate the synthesis of biofuel from natural and engineered strains of algae [30]. 

Baker, M., 2011. The next step for the synthetic genome. Nature 473, 403-408. 

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