Aalto-Helsinki Bioworks
A Synthetic Biology Startup with a Three-Channel Gene Switch

We have engineered a three-channel switch that is controlled with the intensity of blue light. By utilizing the mechanisms of the lambda repressor, we are able to switch between the expressions of three different genes with a short delay. This kind of mechanism provides a nearly real-time control over genes, which could provide advantages in variety of industrial bioprocesses.

Inspired by the principles of open source software, we introduce an Open Sequence business model implemented around our switch. We want to encourage future companies to create Open Sequence based solutions and to empower customers to participate in the product development. Open Sequence model’s transparency as well as lower degree of protection raises trust and continuity and benefits larger community.

We want to share our experiences and insights in biotech entrepreneurship and address the difficulties that students and newcomers may face in the early stages of building a synthetic biology startup.

Project Description

We are the first-ever Finnish iGEM Team and one of the three teams in the new entrepreneurship track. Our aim is to build active synthetic biology community in Finland, to learn and share what biotech entrepreneurship takes and to find an open way to build business on synthetic biology.

We are engineering bacteria whose gene expression can be controlled with blue light. In contrast to previous research, our remote controller is based on light intensity instead of different wavelengths. Thus, we have created a multi-channel switch that requires only one wavelength.

Our device could be used in bioreactors, making prototyping and multi-phase production chains faster, easier and more profitable. We’re making a proof-of-concept controller prototype for research teams, but it can be further scaled up for industrial purposes, such as medical and biofuel industry.

Follow our work on Twitter, Facebook, blog and team web page.

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Coming soon(tm).

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