Grand challenges in space synthetic biology

Amor A Menezes; Michael G Montague; John Cumbers; John A Hogan; Adam P Arkin

doi:10.1098/rsif.2015.0803

Grand challenges in space synthetic biology

J R Soc Interface. 2015 Dec 6;12(113):20150803. doi: 10.1098/rsif.2015.0803.

Authors

Amor A Menezes¹, Michael G Montague², John Cumbers³, John A Hogan⁴, Adam P Arkin⁵

Affiliations

¹ California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, 2151 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, CA 94704-5230, USA amenezes@berkeley.edu.
² Applications of Vital Knowledge, 113 Chestnut Hill Way, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
³ NASA Ames Space Portal, NASA Ames Research Center, MS 555-2, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA.
⁴ Bioengineering Branch, NASA Ames Research Center, MS 239-15, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA.
⁵ California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, 2151 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, CA 94704-5230, USA E.O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, MS955-512 L, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA aparkin@lbl.gov.

Abstract

Space synthetic biology is a branch of biotechnology dedicated to engineering biological systems for space exploration, industry and science. There is significant public and private interest in designing robust and reliable organisms that can assist on long-duration astronaut missions. Recent work has also demonstrated that such synthetic biology is a feasible payload minimization and life support approach as well. This article identifies the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in the field of space synthetic biology, while highlighting relevant progress. It also outlines anticipated broader benefits from this field, because space engineering advances will drive technological innovation on Earth.

Keywords: life support; manufacturing; resource utilization; space cybernetics; space medicine; terraforming.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Aerospace Medicine / methods*
Aerospace Medicine / trends
Animals
Humans
Space Flight*
Synthetic Biology / methods*
Synthetic Biology / trends