- The main and most important difference between traditional gene technology and synthetic biology is that the latter, synthetic biology, makes it possible for us to re-design the nature, said PhD Petri-Jaan Lahtvee, senior scientist, group leader and ERA Chair in Synthetic Biology at the University of Tartu, as he gave us a presentation on the subject at SCCE’s Business Lunch Seminar, Thursday 8 November.

I believe I can speak for all participants when I say that Petri-Jaan Lahtvee’s presentation was not only very interesting, it was fascinating!

- Synthetic biology is the sum of biology and engineering and offers a wide range of important applications. Among them going from fossil fuels to sustainable bio-energy, continued Petri-Jaan Lahtvee.

- Industrial waste-gases, mainly hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, together also known as greenhouse gases, are a threat to the climate today. In the future they will be a resource since synthetic biology makes it possible for us to use the waste-gases for making bio-materials and bio-energy, thus contributing to a sustainable environment.

- Synthetic biology can also be used for curing genetic diseases since we can design and create new biological substances like new genes, proteins, new organs, or even a whole organism.

- Thus we can find new ways to tackle cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson, and other genetic diseases, as well as revolutionize transplantation of human organs. For example, a lung, genetically tailor-designed for the human receiver, can be created inside a pig for later transplantation, concluded Petri-Jaan Lahtvee.

On behalf of the SCCE, I would like to thank Petri-Jaan Lahtvee for a fascinating presentation on what science can bring future life on earth. My thanks also go Radisson BLU Hotel Olümpia for a nice set up of our Seminar and an appetizing Business Lunch buffet.

Sincerely,

Kristiina Brodén - SCCE Ombudsman