How Synthetic Biology Will Help Us Build a Sustainable Future | Stephen Wallace | TEDxVienna

TL;DR

Our reliance on fossil fuels for manufacturing is polluting the planet, but synthetic biology offers a sustainable solution by using living microorganisms as factories to produce everyday materials and medicines.

Transcript

foreign I'd like you all to pinch your clothes maybe the jumper you're wearing right now the jacket maybe the handbag you brought with you today and to take a second to think about what you're holding in your hands you'd be right to think that these are materials right that these materials are made of molecules but have you ever thought about where... Read More

Key Insights

• 💚 The clothing industry is one of the most polluting industries worldwide, emitting almost 10% of all global carbon dioxide emissions.
• 💊 70 of the top 100 pharmaceuticals on the market today are made directly from fossil fuels.
• 🌍 The use of fossil fuels is driving global climate change and they are running out at an alarming rate.
• 🔬 Synthetic biology allows us to program microbes to perform new tasks and change their metabolism, offering solutions to sustainability challenges.
• 🧫 Microbial chemistry has been used for thousands of years to make products like cheese and soy sauce, and has the potential to revolutionize industries like manufacturing, medicine, and fashion.
• ⚡️ By utilizing lignin waste and plastic waste, we can create a more sustainable future by producing chemicals and materials through living microbial factories, reducing pollution and dependence on fossil fuels.
• 🩺 Imagine having living factories inside our bodies that can provide medication when needed, or living inside our clothing to repair them when damaged - these are possibilities with synthetic biology.
• 🌱 Synthetic biology has the potential to lead us to a future where waste is minimized, and processes are cleaner and greener, thanks to the power of nature and microbial chemistry.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does the fashion industry contribute to pollution and climate change?

The fashion industry relies on synthetic fibers made from fossil fuels, which emit carbon dioxide and contribute to landfill waste. It is one of the most polluting industries globally and emits almost 10% of all global carbon dioxide emissions.

Q: What role does synthetic biology play in sustainable manufacturing?

Synthetic biology enables us to program microorganisms to produce materials and medicines. By rewiring their genes, we can use renewable resources like lignin waste and plastic, reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and creating products without carbon emissions.

Q: How can living factories help solve the plastic waste problem?

Synthetic biology offers the possibility of using plastic waste as a resource for manufacturing. By using bacteria, we can convert the plastic waste polluting the environment into clothing or even human medicine, diverting it from landfills and oceans.

Q: How can microorganisms inside our bodies be used for medicinal purposes?

Through synthetic biology, microorganisms can be engineered to act as living factories inside our bodies, only producing medicine when needed. This targeted approach could revolutionize healthcare by minimizing side effects and optimizing treatments.

Q: How does lignin waste contribute to sustainable manufacturing?

Lignin waste, a byproduct of the paper and agricultural industries, is rich in a molecule called guaiacol. By rewiring bacteria, we can transform guaiacol into adipic acid, a key component used in the production of durable materials like nylon. This process reduces waste and eliminates carbon emissions.

Q: What are the future possibilities of synthetic biology and living factories?

Synthetic biology has the potential to create a future where there is no waste. Living factories can be used to produce materials and medicines sustainably, with cleaner and greener processes that align with nature's own mechanisms developed over millions of years. It offers a more optimistic outlook for our planet's future.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The fashion and pharmaceutical industries heavily rely on fossil fuels for manufacturing, contributing to pollution and climate change.

• Synthetic biology, an emerging technology, allows us to program microorganisms to produce materials and medicines in a more sustainable way.

• By rewiring the genes of these microorganisms, we can use renewable resources like lignin waste and plastic to create products without carbon emissions.