BIOMAKING Avisualguideto exploremaking with Biology
Biomaking 2Guide2022
BiomakingGuide2022 3
CoverDesignandIllustrations: Varshini Girishand Ishita Shailesh
A visual guideto exploremakingwith biology
Illustrationsby Varshini Girishand Ishita Shailesh
BIOMAKING
Additional graphics:Canva.com ISBN:978-1-990839-01-6
ForewordbyCorinneTakara
Published by Brilliant LabsInc. 1Germain St.#300, Saint John, NBE2L4V1 Canada
ScienceEditor: Dr.WillCollins
Book Design: CherylWillson
Brilliantlabs.ca
Editor: MaryMoore
This work islicensed undera Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercialShareAlike4.0International License.
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Copyright2022 by Brilliant Labs
Biomaking:Avisualguide toexplore makingwithBiology by Alisha Collins
DesignLead:AlishaCollins
English Edition
AfterwordbyDr.Andrew Pelling
AnAtlanticCanadian-basedcharityofferingahands-on,experientiallearning platform,providingyouthwithopportunitiestodevelopcodinganddigitalskills. Whencreativity,innovation,andtechnologyareappliedtoprojectssupportingthe UnitedNationsSustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs),educatorsandyouthcan createchangewithintheirclassrooms,theircommunities,andthroughoutAtlantic Canada,andbeyond.
Vision
Mission
ABOUT
BrilliantLabs
ToprovideeveryeducatorandyouthinAtlanticCanada,andbeyond,withthe opportunitytodevelopthenecessarycodinganddigitalskillsrequiredtocreate, innovateandinspireafutureofsustainabledevelopmentandgrowththroughoutour regionandourcommunities.
Toworkwithyoungpeople,educators,andcommunityleaderstodevelopcreativity, innovation,digitalskills,andasociallyandenvironmentallyresponsible entrepreneurialmindset.
Biomaking 6Guide2022 CONTENTS Pg.8 Pg.10BiomakingforaSustainableFuture Pg.22Chapter1:Biofashion Pg.29Chapter2:MycoMaterials Pg.36Chapter3:ConductiveBiomaterial Foreword
BiomakingGuide2022 7 Chapter4:Microphotography Pg.47 Chapter5:FoodComposites Pg.58 Afterword Pg.69 Sources Pg.71 Acknowledgements Pg.76
Howmight weengagestudentsand our communities in pressing sustainability issues and do thisina meaningfulway? How might wedevelopplayful and engaging biomaterialdesign experiences that make sustainability topicsfun, exploratory,and expandpeople’ssenseof agencyand deepconnection to the nature around them? What can wedo together to discover the answers to these questions, notjustlearn “about” them? Thesearesome of the questions thatdrovethe developmentof the engagingprojects shared inthisguidebook.
Onecookie traygrowing kombuchaleatherinthe corner of theroom can changethewhole feeling of possibilities in a classroom or makerspace.Bygrowing and harvesting the materials wecraft and buildwith, wecan startto imagine designing withnature in new ways.Wecan connect to our natural world, ancestralknowledge,and envisiona more sustainable future. It createsopportunitiesto examine pressing environmental issues from a placeof creativity and curiosity, rather thanfrom a placeof guiltand dread.
Biomaking 8Guide2022
FOREWORD
I first metAlisha Collins,the author of thisguidebook,in personat the international BiodesignChallengeinNewYork City in2019. Beingamongthefew youtheducators developing biomaterial programming at thattime, itwasinspiringto meet a passionate fellow educator exploring similar activities centeredon biomaking. My teen Biodesign Challengeteam, the GIYBioBuddies,won SecondPlacethat yearwith a biomaking toy kit. The fact thatthey won in aninternationalfield of universities and high schoolswitha toy kithighlighted the importance of play and experimentation in biodesignand sustainability discussions.
Science sometimesfeelslike a listof thingsto memorize ina field whereeverything already has beendiscovered,butin reality, bioscienceat the intersectionof design is creative, messy, exciting, and full of new horizons.Weallhavetheopportunity toexploreand play a role inshapingour Bio Future.This guide book focuses on innovativesimplebiomaterial explorations thatcan spark,sustain, and deepen studentinterest in sustainability design. Sustainablematerial solutions mightarise out of collaborationswithhumble organisms in often overlookedcorners of nature thatare low cost and relatively easyto bringintothe makerspace or classroom. Fungus,kombucha,algaeand theexoskeletonsof insectsmight be essentialto developingnewcircular design pathways.
-CorinneOkadaTakara (Designer&EducatorattheNestMakerSpace)
Thisbiomaking guidebookpresents an excitingrangeof biomaking recipesand prompts for anyonestarting to explorebiomaking. It is a neededresourceto expandparticipation in imaginingsustainable biological futures.Shapingcompelling stories through art and design will becriticalto facilitating future conversationsabout circular design,bioengineering ethics, and sustainability design.Thisbiomaking guidebookisan incredibly useful resource inempoweringeducators and studentstobeginbiomakingjourneys.
BiomakingGuide2022 9
Having developed biomaking programsin collaboration with SanFranciscoBayArea science museums, universities, community biolabs,and high schools,itis endlesslyinspiringfor me to seehow peoplelight up when they design and buildusingcellular materials. Not only do peoplebecomedeeplyengaged withthe materialsand organisms, butthey startto imagine futureapplications and find connections totheirown lives.There isa deepdesire toshare ideasand stories in thesemoments of makingthatarisesout of a fascination for the blending of the familiarwiththe foreign.These activitiesleverage biology thatisaround us, butwhich is mostlyoverlooked,or ifthoughtof at all,seenas disgustingand dirty. Sharing stories inthe momentsof makingenablesmakers to distill theirlearningand embracethis newpersonalconnection to the livingworld around them.
Biomaking 10Guide2022
BIOMAKINGFORA SUSTAINABLEFUTURE
What if wecould growa sustainable future?Let’s explore biomaking for designingsustainableproducts,spaces, and services.
researchlabsandintocommunityspaces. Artists,designers,engineersandhobbyistsareharnessingthe powerofbiologicalliving-materialstosolvecriticalproblems, createsustainabledesignproducts,andmakebioart. Tosupportcutting-edge,hands-onbiodesign adventures,BrilliantLabsstartedthe Biomaking Initiative.Ithelpsyoungpeople explorecomplexbiologicalsystemsinnatureto solvecriticalproblems. Biomaking isanewconceptofmakerspaces inwhichyoungpeoplecollaboratewith harmlessmicrobeslikefungi,bacteria,yeast, andalgaetodesignmeaningfulprojectsfora sustainablefuture. Biomakinghas 3Components: Biomimicry: Seeking inspiration from nature Biofabrication: Livingmaterials as factories Biocollaboration: Working intandem withnature
DutchdesignerEricKlarenbeekhas grown3D-printedfurnitureusingthe rootstructureofmushrooms.
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Designing forBio Futures
Intoday’smodernworld, biotechnology impactsoureveryday lives.Itcanalsohelpusdesignnewbio-basedsustainable productsandmaterials.
Biodesign isanemergingfieldthatusesbiologicalmaterialsand systemstomakeproductsforhumanpurposes.Aroundtheworld, peopleareexploringwaysofbringingbiotechnologiesoutsideof
Whenplasticwasinventedtheintentionwasto solveaproblemandmakeourliveseasier.But beforewerealizedit,plasticitselfbecamea wickedproblem’thatisembeddedinour everydaylives.Plasticwasoriginallymade naturallyfromsapandgumtreesbytheOlmecs ofMexico.Theyusedittomakerubberballs. Plasticisnowproducedsyntheticallyandusedto makealmosteverything.
Plasticsaremadeoflongflexible repeatingchainsofmoleculescalled polymers.Thismolecularstructurecanbe adjustedtogetthedesiredpropertiesof flexibilityanddensity.Today,thousandsof typesofplasticaremadeprimarilyby usingnon-renewableresourcessuchas crudeoilandnaturalgas.Theplastic manufacturingprocessalsousesalotof chemicalsascleaningsolventsthat damagetheenvironment.
Howdoyou feelaboutit?
Whatdowe doaboutit?
Biomaking 12Guide2022
Whatdoyou notice?
Wecancollaboratewithorganismssuchasmealwormsandwaxwormstoeliminateplastic waste.Someorganismscaneatsyntheticplasticmaterials,suchasstyrofoam,andturntheminto compostbybreakingdowntheplasticpolymers.Scientistshavealsodiscoveredbacteriathatcan helpwiththebio-recyclingofplastics.Itdrasticallyreducesthetimeforplasticstodecompose.
ThePlasticProblem
Globalplasticproductionincreasesdramaticallyeachyearandshowsnosignofslowingdown. Moreover,syntheticplasticdoesnotdecompose,andmostofitendsupinthetrash.Weare dealingwithahugeplasticwasteproblemthatpollutesourcommunities,threatensmarinespecies, andendangerswildlife.Agreatdealofdamageiscausedbysingleuseplasticsthataren't recyclableandremainpervasivethroughouttheenvironment.
Inpart,wecantacklethisproblembylimitingouruseofplastic,andusing moresustainablemethodstoproduceit.Asconsumers,wecandecrease plasticwastebyreducingsingle-useplasticsandgoingforreusablealternatives. Asdesigners,wecanusebiomakingtocreatenewwaystoproduceproductswith biodegradableplasticsinsteadofsyntheticplastics.
CollaboratingwithNature
Mushrooms: Thebranching part of mushroomsis calledmycelium.Itis usedtomake biodegradable plasticalternatives.
CollaboratingwithCreatures
Designersandengineersarecurrentlyworkingwiththeselivingorganismstodesign innovativebiomaterials.
DesigningforNature
Waxworms: These insect larvae consumeharmful plastics like styrofoam during theirdevelopment.
Biocollaboration isa process through whichwe use materialsfound innature and seekhelp from creaturesand organisms to design something. Weareworkingwithnature.
Thisisaprocessof building ecofriendly projects thatbenefit the environment insteadof causing damage.Wearetakingcareofnature.
Silkworms: Thesewormsare traditionallyusedfor makingsilk.Theyare nowalsousedin researchformedicines, cosmetics,architecture, andtissue-engineering.
Biomimicry isaprocessthroughwhichwedesign projectsinspiredbydesignsweseeinnature.To mimicmeanstocopy.Wearecopyingnature.
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Wecanusebiomakingtosolvetheplasticcrisis.
SeekingInspirationfromNature
SCOBY (Symbiotic cultureofbacteria &yeast):Thisis commonlyusedasa cultureformaking kombucha (fermentedtea).
Mealworms&
Thisis a descriptive termfor both processesand materialswhich may be compatiblewiththe generalenvironment.
Biomaterials -Thesearematerialsthatcomefromnaturalbiological sources.Theyare sustainableandgoodfortheplanet.
- Thisisthe processof collaboratingwithmicrobes and individual organisms. Itallows for creativeengagementand productionof newbiomaterials.
- TheUNisa groupof manydevelopednationswhichseek toactas a clearinghouseand communityfor ensuring peacefultransition of powerand calm resolution
- These are a list of 17+individualsocietal goals set outby the United Nations which weas a community seekto attain.
- Manyorganic materialsthatarederivedfromsynthetic materialsand petroleum derivatives arenot capableof breaking down intosmaller parts
This is a processof collectingwhat would otherwise bewaste materialsand findingnew applicationsfor themafterthey haveservedtheirintended purpose.
- Repeatsof individualchemical linkages formlongbranching chains thatmay form films or strands butin many casesmay not bedegradable
- Thisisa material commonlyfounddeep beneath the oceanconstructedby marine invertebrates. Theyare large colonies of many organismsbutare categorized intosoftcorals and hardcorals.Muchlikeeggshellthe hardcorals are composed of aggregatecalcium carbonate.
Design- Thisis the processof imagining how somethingmight bedone differentlyinorderto accommodate resourceconstraints.
- Thesearelong chains of linkedsugars thatformthe bulkof energystorageinplants andare anenergydense resource.Theyare commonly used incooking andforourpurposes can beused to thickenor ‘bulk’ a solutionso itbecomesmore paste-like.
- Thismaterialis derivedfromseaweedand other acquatic plantsand formsa rubberygel when exposedto calciumchloride or similar salts makingitespeciallyuseful for bioprintingand similarexploits as itcan quickly harden.
- Thismaterialwas originallyderivedfromanimalconnective tissue(i.e.tendons, skin)butcan also bemade recombinantlyby microbes.Whenacidifieditcan createa syruplikesolutionwhichwillforma gel when exposedto sodium hydroxide (NaOH).The denatured cookedformof collagenmakes the basis of gelatin.
This‘elastic-like’ bio-polymer was originallygatheredfromgnathosomes (jawed vertebrateslike sharks and cartilaginousfishes).Anexampleof which might bethe rubbery textureof a shark's fin. Someof these materials can bemade recombinantly now withyeast and/or EColi.
Thismaterialis also derivedfromconnective,epithelialand nervoustissue and was initially describedas a ‘goo-like’as a ubiquitous cartilaginoustissuefound throughout the body.
Anaturally occurring polymeric biomaterialderivedfromthe plantcellwall that is especiallyabsorbent of water and is highly resilient.
This biomaterialwas the basis for many fabricsfromtheEast(i.e.China,Japan,and India) and ispolymeric forminglong strands.Silk isbiocompatible and can beused for many applications in tissue engineeringor a host of other applications.
to issues thatmay emerge
CHAPTER1: BIOFASHION
Biomaking 22Guide2022
Growyourownfabricusinglow-cost supplies.Collaboratewithmillions offriendlymicrobes(bacteriaand yeast)todesignsustainably.
AcompanynamedAlgiknitis makingfabricsusingthreads madewithkelp,algae,and seaweedsthatgrow underwater.
BiomakingGuide2022 23
TheFashionProblem
Biomakingallowsustoexplore biodegradable derived materialsbycollaboratingwithharmlessmicrobes. Inthissession,wewilllearnaboutbiomaterialsand investigatewaystocollaboratewithmillionsoffriendly microbes(bacteriaandyeast)todesignmicrobialfilmsthat canbeusedtomakesustainablefashionproducts.
BioFashion
Natureofferskelpinabundance.Oncethese fabricsgetwornout,theycanserveasfoodto growotherfabrics.
Fast-fashionisaseriousproblem.Fashiontrends changequickly.Thereareseasonaltrends,and nowevenshortermicro-trendsbecauseof Tik-Tokandcelebrityinfluencers.With fastfashion, clothingandaccessoriesaremassproduced quicklyandcheaplytokeepupwiththedizzying demand.
Thisrapidproductionandconsumption offashionisdestroyingtheplanet. CO2emissionsarepollutingtheair.Chemicalwasteisdestroyingthesoilandthewater. Furthermore,manypeopleareworkingunderunsafeandunfairlaborconditionstokeepus“in style”.Landfillsoverflowwithtextilewasteasmoreandmoreclothesandaccessoriesbecome obsolete.Thisclothingisrarelyrecycledbecauseitisacomplicatedprocessandrequires intenseresources.Evenjustwashingthesyntheticfabricmostfast-fashionclothingismade fromcanreleasemicroplasticsintothewatersystem.
Whatifyoucoulddesign productsorclotheswith materialsyougrowfrom nature?
Thereisanemergingbio-fashionfield wherepeopleareexploring alternativematerialstosynthetically derivedortreatedfabrics.Mostofthis istakingplaceineitherresearch institutionsorstartupcompanylabs. However,soonthiswillbecome commercial.Perhapsyoucan inventsomethingandstarta bio-fashionbusiness.Many artistsarealsoexploring sustainable fashionusing scientificmethods.
Biomaking 24Guide2022
SCOBYcanbeusedtomakefabric.Youcangrowmillionsofthesemicrobes byfeedingthemsugarandtea.Inthissession,wewillstartgrowingabiofilmwithSCOBY.
SCOBY,ormotherculture,isusedtomakeKombuchatea,a fermentedteawithlivingmicrobes.Kombuchateaismade bybrewingtea,andthenaddingsugarandthemicrobial community(SCOBY).Thebacterialcolonywillgrowasit feedsontheteaandsugar.
SCOBY(SymbioticColonyofBacteriaandYeast)
BacterialCells Yeast Cells Intact SCOBY
BiomakingGuide2022 25
MicrobealLeather Rememberto followsafetytips!
SuzanneLee’sBiocouture projectintroduceswaysof collaboratingwithmicrobes tocreatefashionartifacts. introducesnewwaystocreatesustainablefabricbyusingbio-collaboraton.Shesharesher methodsofdesigningfabricwithmicrobialcellulose.Leeusesakombucharecipe,grownby feedingteaandsugartoacommunityoflivingmicrobesinanoptimalenvironment.Shefurther demonstrateshowshecreatesbeautifulthree-dimensionalfashionartifactswiththis methodwhichorganicallyreplacesconventionalchemical-basedprocesses.
Activity: Growing Microbial Leather Materials&Equipment •Kombuchatea drink / culture (SCOBY) •Sugar(1to2cups) •2Teabags(Green/blackoroolong) •Applecider vinegar (2 tbsp)optional •Anempty container withlid( glass / plastic) •Hot water 4-6 cups (ask an adultfor help) •Aclean fabric or paper towel •Measuring Cup SafetyGear Gloves,SafetyGoggles,Rubbing AlcoholSprayor wipes InherTEDtalk'Growyourownclothes’,fashiondesignerturnedbiofabricationpioneerSusanLee
Biomaking 58Guide2022
CHAPTER5: FoodComposites
Whatifwecoulddesignnewwaystocreatesustainablefood packagingalternativesusingfoodwaste?
Rethinking Food Waste
Biodegradablekitchenwasteconstitutesaround30percentofalldomesticwaste.Whenitisnot discardedsustainably,itcanleadtoproblemslikegreenhousegasemissions.Inthis chapter,wewillexplorecreativewaystotransformfoodsurplusinyourhomeandcommunity intosustainableproducts.Let’sinvestigatethefoodwastecrisis,learnabout circulardesign, anddesigninnovativebiomaterialswithleftoversfromyourkitchen.
Foodwastegoestothelandfillandreleasesmethanegasintotheenvironmentasitdecomposes, whichcontributestoglobalwarming.Largehectaresoflandthatcouldbepotentiallyusedfor agriculturenowserveasalandfillfordiscarded,unwantedfood.Moreover,single-useplasticfood packaginghassignificantlycontributedtothewasteproblem.Wecoulddrasticallyreducethe amountoffoodwastethatgoesintolandfillsbyredesigningpackagingasbiomaterials.
BiomakingGuide2022 59
Foodisabasichumanneed;itnourishesus,andservesastheessentialfuelforour bodiestofunction.Itiscrucialforoursurvival,yetmillionsofpeopleworldwidearehungryor malnourishedanddeprivedofthisessentialhumanright.Whenpeoplearefoodinsecure,itmeans theyarenotabletoeatenoughqualityfoodtokeeptheirbodyhealthy.Almosthalfofthefood producedgloballyiswastedeachyear,yetitisestimatedthat8.9percentoftheworldpopulationis hungryorfoodinsecure.
Foodproductionusesalargeamountofresourcesforgrowing,processing,packagingand transportingfood.Thisnegativelyimpactsclimate,water,landandbiodiversity.TheFoodand AgricultureOrganizationisaUnitedNationsagencythatfocussesonendinghunger.Accordingto anFAOreport,ifwecouldlimitglobalfoodwaste,wecouldreducetheneedforfoodproductionby 60%.
Sustainablematerialsolutionsmight ariseoutofcollaborationswithhumble organismsinoften-overlookedcornersof naturethatarelowcostandrelatively easytobringintothemakerspaceor classroom.Fungus,kombucha,algae andtheexoskeletonsofinsectsmight beessentialtodevelopingnewcircular designpathways.
Sciencesometimesfeelslikealistof thingstomemorizeinafieldwhere everythingalreadyhasbeendiscovered, butinreality,bioscienceatthe intersectionofdesigniscreative,messy, excitingandfullofnewhorizons.Weall havetheopportunitytoexploreandplay aroleinshapingourBioFuture.This colourfullyillustratedBiomakingguide bookfocusesoninnovativesimple biomaterialexplorationsthatcanspark, sustain,anddeepenstudentinterestin sustainabilitydesign.
COMINGTHISFALL
BIOMAKING GUIDE
Brilliantlabs.ca/biomaking Sharethefunofbioscience withyourclass!Signupto receiveBrilliantLabs BiomakingGuidebyAlisha Collinsandhowtoorder. PREORDER
BIOMAKING GUIDE
BIOMAKING
Explorewaystocollaboratewithorganismsandlivingsystemsandusethemasfactories togrowsustainablematerials.Thispictorial-stylequickandeasyguideisdesignedto sparkinterestintinkeringwithlivingmatteranddesigningcreativepersonalprojects.We presenttheemergingBiodesignfield,itssignificance,andpotentialapplicationswith hands-onactivities.Thechaptersbeginwithaproblemstatementandproposehow Biomakingcanhelpusgetastepclosertothesolutionspace.Thetopicsmentionedin thisbookaddressspecificUnitedNationsSustainableDevelopmentGoals.Wehopeto empoweryoutotakeactionandachievethesegoals.Somereflectivepromptsare embeddedthroughoutthebooktoserveasanideabrainstormingdiary.
