How to program your microbe: sequencing and modelling to the rescue

Synthetic genetic circuits offer a way for us to reprogram and implement novel functionalities in living cells. They are composed of many interconnected parts encoded in DNA which must function together in concert. Unfortunately, these parts often behave differently when pieced together, due to contextual effects and unintended interactions with the host cell. In this talk, I will demonstrate how we have been using sequencing technologies and mathematical modelling to tackle this problem. I will show how RNA-sequencing can be used to reveal the inner workings of large genetic circuits and uncover why some designs fail. Such capabilities will be essential for us to better understand the rules governing the effective construction of our own complex biological circuits, as well as the evolution of natural systems.