(Re-)Constructing and Re-Programming Life

"Synthetic biology" is an emerging field that is very rapidly gaining currency within the scientific community and society at large. Although in itself not an entirely new concept and having been referred in literature for the first time as early as 1912, the advancements in molecular biology, high-throughput "omics" analysis and on computer and engineering sciences, only now begin to enable a serious, systematic approach to the development and forward engineering of biological circuits and cellular capabilities that may be ultimately translated into processes or products. The core of this concept is that, by drawing on knowledge developed in biology, chemistry, robotics and adapting engineering design and production principles stemming from Information Technologies, it is possible now to set off the creation of artificial (i.e. "synthetic") and hybrid systems using biological engineering design principles with unprecedented power and efficiency.

The pursuit of synthetic biology is both the design and fabrication of biological components and systems that do not exist in the natural world as well as the re-design and fabrication of already existing biological systems. Eventually, it is envisioned to build up from scratch - bottom-up approaches - cellular components, compartments and even cells to create living devices and use them either as molecular-scale factories, to detect chemical weapons, clean up pollutants, make simple computations, diagnose disease, deliver vaccines, produce water for water or sunlight, or to create new, hybrid materials. Other on-going efforts - top-down approaches - with ultimately the very same goals focus on simplifying and genetically reprogramming existing cells with simple genomes.

This vision has thus tremendous scientific, technological and economical impacts. However, regardless of a number of recent advances in this regard of the extraordinary possibilities, Synthetic Biology is as yet in its infancy, with knowledge being is highly scattered and scarce, and facing many serious scientific, technological and societal challenges ahead.

This conference provides an in-depth discussion forum among practitioners of the various fields underlying Synthetic Biology. It aims to pin-point the challenges, realistically assess the potential and pitfalls and to lay the basis for future developments and consolidation of the field towards fulfilling the envisaged - and ambitious - goals. Because of the lack of a common language among the scientists from the many different fields involved, longer meetings with large blocks of time dedicated to discussions, rather than series of presentations held at 'traditional' conferences, are favored for establishing such a forum. In addition to bringing together a collection of investigators who are at the forefront of their field, this conference offers excellent opportunities for junior scientists and graduate students to present their work in poster format and exchange ideas with leaders in the field. The collegial atmosphere, with programmed discussion sessions as well as opportunities for informal gatherings in the afternoons and evenings, provides an avenue for scientists from different disciplines to brainstorm and promotes cross-disciplinary collaborations in the various research areas represented.