Biological Circuits for Synthetic Biology

Members of the fast-growing "synthetic biology" research community are designing and constructing novel organisms and biologically-inspired systems -- or redesigning existing organisms and systems -- to solve problems that natural systems cannot. The range of potential applications for synthetic biological systems runs broad and deep, and includes such profoundly important ventures as the microbial-based production of advanced biofuels and inexpensive versions of critical therapeutic drugs.
synthetic biologists aim to create biological circuits that can be used for the safer and more efficient construction of increasingly complex functions in microorganisms. A central component of such circuits is RNA, the multipurpose workhorse. Full article here: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110526103006.htm

So are the nanoparticles inside Alister so far fetched?
come to think of it, yes, it is sci-fi after all :-)
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