The Vilnius-Lithuania team members Matas Rarivanas, Aistė Židonytė and Rusnė Uzielaitė, representing Lithuania in the international iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition) competition, visited the Anykščių L. and S. Didiulių public library. The purpose of the team’s visit is to familiarize the public with synthetic biology, to explain generally what it is and why it is being done.
The young scientists of Vilnius University presented last year’s impressive team achievements and awards won in the Global Competition, and shared this year’s research project, which aims to create a new copolymer of bacterial cellulose and chitosan using the principles of synthetic biology. By combining the target material with drugs, it would be possible to obtain a localized drug delivery system. Cellulose-chitosan polymer could be a sustainable replacement for plastic food packaging in industry.
The most controversial type of synthetic biology is test-tube meat. The VU researchers presented how it is done, that in a few months, a mass of several kilograms of meat is grown from a tiny piece of meat, taken from an animal by a painless biopsy method, in a test tube-bidon by cell division. It is true that such meat is not sold in Europe, because not enough research has been done on this topic, and the price of meat grown using the method of synthetic biology would be significantly higher, at least for now, due to underdeveloped extraction. However, in the future it is very real, it remains an ethical question that everyone must answer for themselves.
We are very happy that we received a gift. The iGEM Vilnius-Lithuania team presented the publication “Introduction to Synthetic Biology” in braille to the Anykščiai L. and S. Didiulių public library.
Public library information
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