Maria Li
Life Interconnected MA Biodesign Uuit 1: Seed
MA Biodesign 2021 - 2023 Unit 1: Seed | Course Tutors: Nancy Diniz, Course Leader MA Biodesign | Alice Taylor, Lecturer in Biology and Living Systems | Oscar Villareal, Associate Lecturer in Computational Design and Interdisciplinary Studios | Victoria Geaney, Associate Lecturer Interdisciplinary Studios | Briony Clarke, Associate Lecturer Interdisciplinary Studios MA Biodesign
Contents Life Defined
1
Biological Rhythm
3
Marvelous Cell
5
Genetic Engineering
6
Stem Cell
9
Glossary
11
Life Defined
Life Interconnected
WHAT IS LIFE?
Dead unit
Environment
Increasing sophistication of cognition Sensorium
Consciousness
C
A
B
A
dec
gen
C
B
AUTOPOIESIS UNIT
membrane bilayer
if V gen > V dec
Growth
Autopoiesis Unit
if V gen = V dec
Homeostasis
Autopoiesis Unit
if V gen < V dec
Decay
Interaction
Life Interconnected
Life Defined !
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REFERENCES Big History Project. (n.d.). Big History Project: Chapter 3 - Life. [online] Available at: https://www.bighisto ryproject.com/chapters/3#extinctions [Accessed 4 Mar. 2022]. Capra, F. and Luisi, P.L. (2018). The systems view of life: a unifying vision. New York: Cambridge University Press. Ghosh, P. (2017). BBC News. Earliest evidence of life on Earth “found.”, BBC News. [online] 1 Mar. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-39117523 [Accessed 4 Mar. 2022].
2
Biological Rhythm
Life Interconnected
Life Interconnected
Biological Rhythm !
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REFERENCES Lee, J.-H. (2021). Stromatolites. Encyclopedia of Geology, pp.375–388. Popall, R.M., Bolhuis, H., Muyzer, G. and Sánchez-Román, M. (2020). Stromatolites as Biosignatures of Atmospheric Oxygenation: Carbonate Biomineralization and UV-C Resilience in a Geitlerinema sp. Dominated Culture. Frontiers in Microbiology, 11. Slezak, M. (2018). The natural wonder that holds the key to the origins of life – and warns of its destruction. [online] https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/oct/09/the-na tural-wonder-that-holds-the-key-to-the-origins-of-life-and-warns-of-its-destruction. [Accessed 17 Jan. 2022] Taylor, T. (2009). Precambrian Life. Biology and Evolution of Fossil Plants, pp.43–70. Ponce, V. M.(2019). Plants and animals: How many are they? San Diego State University, California. [online] http://ponce.sdsu.edu/plants_and_animals.html [Accessed 17 Jan. 2022].
4
Marvelous Cell
Life Interconnected
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Genetic Engineering
Life Interconnected
6
Fall Armyworm
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Marvelous Cell
Life Interconnected
Photo credit: Business Insider
Genetic Engineering !
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Life Interconnected
REFERENCES Marvelous Cells Arnold, C. (2020). Horseshoe crab blood is key to making a COVID-19 vaccine—but the ecosystem may suffer. [online] Available at: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/covid-vac cine-needs-horseshoe-crab-blood?loggedin=true [Accessed 16 Jan. 2022]. Cerenius, L. and Söderhäll, K. (2011). Coagulation in Invertebrates. Journal of Innate Immunity, 3(1), pp.3–8. Leschen, A.S. and Correia, S.J. (2010). Mortality in female horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) from biomedical bleeding and handling: implications for fisheries management. Marine and Freshwater Behaviour and Physiology, 43(2), pp.135–147. Mapping Ignorance. (2016). The blue blood of the horseshoe crab. [online] Available at: https://mappin gignorance.org/2016/02/22/the-blue-blood-of-the-horseshoe-crab/. Shakibazad, Sh., Christianu, A. and Hajeb, P. (2013). Blood Cell Histology of Horseshoe Crab, Tachypleus gigas. Asian Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 8(2), pp.275–283.
Genetic Engineering Degnarain, N. (2018). Big Pharma’s U-Turn Threatens 450-Million-Year-Old Species On Front Line Of Coronavi rus Defense. [online] Forbes. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nishandeg narain/2020/06/28/big-pharmas-u-turn-threatens-450-mil lion-year-old-species-on-front-line-of-coronavirus-defense/?sh=214faf5c25d5 [Accessed 4 Mar. 2022]. Ding, J.L. and Ho, B. (2004). A novel generation of cloned horseshoe crab recombinant factor c for detection and removal of endotoxin. [online] Available at: https://patents.goog le.com/patent/EP1015609B1/en [Accessed 4 Mar. 2022]. Ding, J.L. and Ho, B. (2001). A new era in pyrogen testing. Trends in Biotechnology, 19(8), pp.277–281. Zhang, S. (2018). The Last Days of the Blue-Blood Harvest. [online] The Atlantic. Available at: https://ww w.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/05/blood-in-the-water/559229/ [Accessed 7 Dec. 2019].
8
Stem Cell
Life Interconnected
Life Interconnected
Stem Cells !
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REFERENCES Mummery, C., van de Stolpe, A., Roelen, B.A.J. and Clevers, H. eds., (2014). Chapter 13 - Human Stem Cells for Organs-on-Chips: Clinical Trials Without Patients?11Part of this chapter was adapted from an Organs-on-Chips meeting report, Lab on a Chip 2013, DOI: 10.1039/c3lc50248a. [online] ScienceDi rect. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780124115514000131 [Accessed 4 Mar. 2022]. Zhang, J., Wei, X., Zeng, R., Xu, F. and Li, X. (2017). Stem cell culture and differentiation in microfluidic devices toward organ-on-a-chip. Future Science OA, 3(2), p.FSO187. Zhang, Q. and Austin, R.H. (2012). Applications of Microfluidics in Stem Cell Biology. BioNanoScience, 2(4), pp.277–286. Zheng YL. Some Ethical Concerns About Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. Sci Eng Ethics. 2016 Oct;22(5):1277-1284. doi: 10.1007/s11948-015-9693-6. Epub 2015 Aug 15. PMID: 26276162.
10
Glossary
Life Interconnected
Glossary Bio-inspired Design Application or adaptation of biological knowledge in the research, development, and fabrication of objects produced across disciplines that include but not limited to design, medicine, and engineering. Also referred to as biodesign, bio-inspired design includes biomimicry, where natural forms and process are emulated for new purposes, and the development of new technologies based on the adaptation of these natural principals to create original hybrids. Biofabrication The designing and building of products utilizing living things. The process harnesses a range of organisms such as bacteria, yeast, algae, mycelium, and mammalian cells to grow and cultivate the raw material for design objects that includes fashion, furnitures and even architectures. Bioreceptive design The production of substances designed to promote biocolonization, the fruitful reporduction of plants and simple organisms in or on the object itself. Bioengineering Bioengineering is the application of principles of biological systems and the tools of engineering to create usable, tangible, economically-viable products or solutions. Biodegradable Capable of decay when broken down by living organisms such as bacteria and fungi. Biodegradable substances release nutrients during the decomposition process that can be recycled by the ecosystem. Nonbiodegradable substances such as glass, heavy metals, and plastics create global, long-term disposal issues. Blue carbon Blue carbon is simply the term for carbon captured by the world's ocean and coastal ecosystems. Carbon insetting Carbon insetting is an investment by your company in emissions reduction projects within the supply chain. In contrast to emissions reduction in external climate protection projects (carbon offset projects), climate protection money remains within your company's value creation cycle. Emergent property Any property of a system composed of many distinct subunit parts that cannot be accomplished by the subparts alone. A synergistic phenomenon Embroynic stem cell Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are stem cells derived from the undifferentiated inner mass cells of a human embryo. Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent, meaning they are able to grow (i.e. differentiate) into all derivatives of the three primary germ layers: ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm. Geological history A time scale based not on human history but on the geological processes of Earth, where major changes occur over time periods not directly perceivable by humans.
Glossary
Micelle A spherical aggregate that self-assembles from atmphipathic molecules (i.e., those with hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties). An examples is fatty acids, which assemble into bilayer sheets. Microbial mat A macroscopic multispecies community of syntrophic microbial organisms arranged within a layered or laminated structure. Microenvironment A microscopic area whose physical conditions differ from those of other nearby locations. Also called a microhabitat. Protocell A hypothetical cell precursor that existed before the last universal common ancester of life on Earth, or a basic cell precursor produced from prebiotic chemicals in a laboratory. Pluripotent stem cell Cells that have the capacity to self-renew by dividing and to develop into the three primary germ cell layers of the early embryo and therefore into all cells of the adult body, but not extra-embryonic tissues such as the placenta. Synthetic Biology SB is an interdisciplinary field integrating engineering with biology to synthesize forms of life or biological structures alternate to those existing in nature. There are two main scientific research directions. One is focused on applications in the biotechnological world; for example, making bacteria capable of producing biofuels or specialized drugs. Another direction points more toward basic science, in trying to use the tools of SB for a better understanding of the mechanisms of life; for example, synthesis of minimal cellular life to understand the origin of cellular metabolism. Sustainability The most common definition of sustainability comes from the 1987 Brundtland Commission report for the United Nations. It defines the concept as "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Regenerative Regenerative powers or processes cause something to heal or become active again after it has been damaged or been inactive
12
Maria Li
Life Interconnected
2022
