Biology was messy and resistant to precision or engineering. You don't hear about finely honed dog breeding, for example. But part of the biotech revolution: Sterling's designer organisms spreading their germline goodness is coming online.
When you see software that can synthesize biotech results and increase productivity, then we know that our tools are beginning to race away and that the real revolution could be commencing.
The software program, called a DNA compiler, designs DNA sequences to control protein production inside simple organisms. The biofuels industry, for example, is interested in maximizing the amount of proteins produced to optimize metabolism.
To produce proteins, which are integral for creating and maintaining cells, an organism's DNA sequence controls the proteins that it makes and how much of each protein is produced.
"You tell the computer what is the amount of protein that the organism should make and the computer tells you the DNA sequence that will give you that amount of protein," Salis said.
