Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Research in my laboratory uses Synthetic Biology to solve some of the most pressing challenges of our times, such as increased demand for food, clean water, fuel, and crucial medicines. To achieve these goals, I am developing molecular tools for generating designer organisms that are programmed by synthetic genomes. DNA synthesis technology is predicted to become much more powerful and affordable in the near future, thanks to a new global collaborative effort named Genome Project write (GP-write). GP-write aims to invest up to $3 billion USD over the next ten years to reduce the cost of creating synthetic DNA. To take advantage of this rapidly advancing DNA synthesis technology, improved methods for moving and storing large synthetic DNA fragments need to be developed. Thus, I propose an efficient method for construction and installation of synthetic genomes into a cell's organelles, such as mitochondriathe cell's “power plant”and chloroplaststhe cell's light-harvesting factory used in photosynthesis. This research program will enable the production of organisms and technologies with greater value for Canadians: crop plants with new biological functions, such as nitrogen fixation, to reduce the need for fertilizers; algal strains with higher lipid content to provide a cheap source of biofuels; and medical treatments for diseases associated with damaged mitochondrial genomes, such as some cases of diabetes, deafness, and Parkinson's. Moreover, this project will provide cutting-edge Synthetic Biology training for a new generation of scientists in techniques such as molecular DNA cloning, DNA synthesis, and whole-genome transplantation. At the end of their training, my trainees will have the knowledge and experience to implement their own ideas for designer organisms, which will help furnish the development of new patented technologies and new biotech companies in Canada.