imagine a substance a powder that can be programmed to turn itself into a wide
programmed to turn itself into a wide
programmed to turn itself into a wide variety of molecules it could turn
variety of molecules it could turn
variety of molecules it could turn itself into a diagnostic to pinpoint
itself into a diagnostic to pinpoint
itself into a diagnostic to pinpoint your illness or it can be programmed to
your illness or it can be programmed to
your illness or it can be programmed to turn itself into an antibiotic to treat
turn itself into an antibiotic to treat
turn itself into an antibiotic to treat your infection or maybe even a drug to
your infection or maybe even a drug to
your infection or maybe even a drug to treat cancer okay
treat cancer okay
treat cancer okay this powder can be stored at room
this powder can be stored at room
this powder can be stored at room temperature easily and whenever you want
temperature easily and whenever you want
temperature easily and whenever you want it only requires a single step to make
it only requires a single step to make
it only requires a single step to make your desired molecules all you have to
your desired molecules all you have to
your desired molecules all you have to do and anybody can do this is you just
do and anybody can do this is you just
do and anybody can do this is you just have to add water to it that’s it
have to add water to it that’s it
have to add water to it that’s it what if making molecules for
what if making molecules for
what if making molecules for therapeutics and diagnostics was as easy
therapeutics and diagnostics was as easy
therapeutics and diagnostics was as easy as making instant coffee
as making instant coffee
as making instant coffee I’m Peter Wynn and I’m here today to
I’m Peter Wynn and I’m here today to
I’m Peter Wynn and I’m here today to share with you our ongoing efforts
share with you our ongoing efforts
share with you our ongoing efforts towards developing this technology at
towards developing this technology at
towards developing this technology at Harvard’s V’s Institute and at MIT in
Harvard’s V’s Institute and at MIT in
Harvard’s V’s Institute and at MIT in the laboratory of Professor Jim Collins
the laboratory of Professor Jim Collins
the laboratory of Professor Jim Collins this story has many facets this is a
this story has many facets this is a
this story has many facets this is a story about surprising biological
story about surprising biological
story about surprising biological activity that persists even after death
activity that persists even after death
activity that persists even after death it’s a story about discovering a pause
it’s a story about discovering a pause
it’s a story about discovering a pause button to preserve this activity so that
button to preserve this activity so that
button to preserve this activity so that you can use it in the future and it’s a
you can use it in the future and it’s a
you can use it in the future and it’s a story of the amazing capabilities and
story of the amazing capabilities and
story of the amazing capabilities and resilience of biological systems so this
resilience of biological systems so this
resilience of biological systems so this powder sounds incredible but how do you
powder sounds incredible but how do you
powder sounds incredible but how do you make it how does it work to answer that
make it how does it work to answer that
make it how does it work to answer that our story has a start in the past and
our story has a start in the past and
our story has a start in the past and 1907 Sweden where Edward Buettner is
1907 Sweden where Edward Buettner is
1907 Sweden where Edward Buettner is being awarded a Nobel Prize in Chemistry
for his work on yeast cells so yeast
for his work on yeast cells so yeast cells are great to work with you can
cells are great to work with you can
cells are great to work with you can grow them up in a flask or maybe a vat
grow them up in a flask or maybe a vat
grow them up in a flask or maybe a vat and you could take these v cells and you
and you could take these v cells and you
and you could take these v cells and you can feed them sugars right
can feed them sugars right
can feed them sugars right and they’ll take these sugars and
and they’ll take these sugars and
and they’ll take these sugars and they’ll happily gobble them up and
they’ll happily gobble them up and
they’ll happily gobble them up and they’ll make for you alcohol and bees
they’ll make for you alcohol and bees
they’ll make for you alcohol and bees off carbon dioxide right there’s this
off carbon dioxide right there’s this
off carbon dioxide right there’s this process known as fermentation and it
process known as fermentation and it
process known as fermentation and it gives us our tasty beverages that we
gives us our tasty beverages that we
gives us our tasty beverages that we know as beer and wine
know as beer and wine
know as beer and wine so what Bijnor did was he collected
so what Bijnor did was he collected
so what Bijnor did was he collected these yeast cells he put them into a
these yeast cells he put them into a
these yeast cells he put them into a mortar and pestle and he pulverized them
mortar and pestle and he pulverized them
mortar and pestle and he pulverized them just crushed them and from that he
just crushed them and from that he
just crushed them and from that he collected the leftover fluid which he
collected the leftover fluid which he
collected the leftover fluid which he called yeah he called it yeast juice
called yeah he called it yeast juice
called yeah he called it yeast juice yeah I know what you’re thinking yeast
yeah I know what you’re thinking yeast
yeah I know what you’re thinking yeast juice
juice
juice YUM where can I get some right so no he
YUM where can I get some right so no he
YUM where can I get some right so no he didn’t drink this juice at least we
didn’t drink this juice at least we
didn’t drink this juice at least we don’t think so
don’t think so
don’t think so so this juice it’s not living it’s not
so this juice it’s not living it’s not
so this juice it’s not living it’s not alive it can’t replicate right it’s just
alive it can’t replicate right it’s just
alive it can’t replicate right it’s just the leftover parts
the leftover parts
the leftover parts it’s the extracted innards of the soul
it’s the extracted innards of the soul
it’s the extracted innards of the soul but surprisingly this extract that’s not
but surprisingly this extract that’s not
but surprisingly this extract that’s not alive could do things that a living
alive could do things that a living
alive could do things that a living yeast cell could do you could give it
yeast cell could do you could give it
yeast cell could do you could give it sugars and it will make for you alcohol
sugars and it will make for you alcohol
sugars and it will make for you alcohol and it will emit carbon dioxide in
and it will emit carbon dioxide in
and it will emit carbon dioxide in essence this nonliving extract was
essence this nonliving extract was
essence this nonliving extract was eating and breathing and it’s breathing
eating and breathing and it’s breathing
eating and breathing and it’s breathing actually continued for days it’s been
actually continued for days it’s been
actually continued for days it’s been over a century since Bueller’s discovery
over a century since Bueller’s discovery
over a century since Bueller’s discovery and this finding has been replicated in
and this finding has been replicated in
and this finding has been replicated in many kinds of cells you can take a
many kinds of cells you can take a
many kinds of cells you can take a bacterial cell you can take a plant cell
bacterial cell you can take a plant cell
bacterial cell you can take a plant cell you can take an insect cell an animal
you can take an insect cell an animal
you can take an insect cell an animal cell and yes you can even take a human
cell and yes you can even take a human
cell and yes you can even take a human cell and they’ve all been made into
cell and they’ve all been made into
cell and they’ve all been made into these active extracts also in the past
these active extracts also in the past
these active extracts also in the past few decades we have become exceedingly
few decades we have become exceedingly
few decades we have become exceedingly efficient at manipulating biology on the
efficient at manipulating biology on the
efficient at manipulating biology on the genetic level in all kinds of organisms
genetic level in all kinds of organisms
genetic level in all kinds of organisms and we can apply those same strategies
and we can apply those same strategies
and we can apply those same strategies also to these extracts I can take a
also to these extracts I can take a
also to these extracts I can take a bunch of extracts and I can actually
bunch of extracts and I can actually
bunch of extracts and I can actually feed programs into them so these
feed programs into them so these
feed programs into them so these programs are information encoded into a
programs are information encoded into a
programs are information encoded into a piece of DNA or RNA and extract will
piece of DNA or RNA and extract will
piece of DNA or RNA and extract will read that program and it will start to
read that program and it will start to
read that program and it will start to stitch together the biomolecules that I
stitch together the biomolecules that I
stitch together the biomolecules that I want right
want right
want right so this sounds very useful which brings
so this sounds very useful which brings
so this sounds very useful which brings us to our next part a little twist in
us to our next part a little twist in
us to our next part a little twist in the story now that you have this extract
the story now that you have this extract
the story now that you have this extract how do you store it well all biological
how do you store it well all biological
how do you store it well all biological things all organic matter will spoil if
things all organic matter will spoil if
things all organic matter will spoil if left out for long enough thank a carton
left out for long enough thank a carton
left out for long enough thank a carton of milk or a hamburger right you can’t
of milk or a hamburger right you can’t
of milk or a hamburger right you can’t eat a hamburger put it on the counter
eat a hamburger put it on the counter
eat a hamburger put it on the counter and then come back a week later to
and then come back a week later to
and then come back a week later to finish it off at least I hope none of
finish it off at least I hope none of
finish it off at least I hope none of you do that of course not
you do that of course not
you do that of course not it spoils and rots and in biology
it spoils and rots and in biology
it spoils and rots and in biology laboratories you have a very similar
laboratories you have a very similar
laboratories you have a very similar situation bio labs are filled with
situation bio labs are filled with
situation bio labs are filled with freezers and refrigerators because when
freezers and refrigerators because when
freezers and refrigerators because when you’re not using your cells when you’re
you’re not using your cells when you’re
you’re not using your cells when you’re not growing them you have to freeze them
not growing them you have to freeze them
not growing them you have to freeze them or you have to put them in a
or you have to put them in a
or you have to put them in a refrigerator and cell-free extracts
refrigerator and cell-free extracts
refrigerator and cell-free extracts pretty much the same thing they might
pretty much the same thing they might
pretty much the same thing they might not be alive but it’s still made of
not be alive but it’s still made of
not be alive but it’s still made of organic matter and it will still spoil
organic matter and it will still spoil
organic matter and it will still spoil but in 2014 a colleague of mine
but in 2014 a colleague of mine
but in 2014 a colleague of mine Keith Purdy he found that you can
Keith Purdy he found that you can
Keith Purdy he found that you can actually freeze dry these extracts in
actually freeze dry these extracts in
actually freeze dry these extracts in essence you remove all the water so that
essence you remove all the water so that
essence you remove all the water so that now to get this fluffy white powder and
now to get this fluffy white powder and
now to get this fluffy white powder and the powder it can be stored at room
the powder it can be stored at room
the powder it can be stored at room temperature no refrigeration needed and
temperature no refrigeration needed and
temperature no refrigeration needed and you could sprinkle this with little DNA
you could sprinkle this with little DNA
you could sprinkle this with little DNA programs as well in essence what we have
programs as well in essence what we have
programs as well in essence what we have discovered is a very very convenient
discovered is a very very convenient
discovered is a very very convenient pause button for biology so now we have
pause button for biology so now we have
pause button for biology so now we have biology on pause right next question is
biology on pause right next question is
biology on pause right next question is well it’s on pause how do you activate
well it’s on pause how do you activate
well it’s on pause how do you activate it how do you end this the answer is
it how do you end this the answer is
it how do you end this the answer is actually quite simple whenever you want
actually quite simple whenever you want
actually quite simple whenever you want to you can take this freeze-dried powder
to you can take this freeze-dried powder
to you can take this freeze-dried powder and you just add water the elixir of
and you just add water the elixir of
and you just add water the elixir of life and to reach it reactivates the
life and to reach it reactivates the
life and to reach it reactivates the components of the powder in essence you
components of the powder in essence you
components of the powder in essence you have bio manufacturing capabilities at
have bio manufacturing capabilities at
have bio manufacturing capabilities at your fingertips right this is pretty
your fingertips right this is pretty
your fingertips right this is pretty much similar to a bag of ramen right
much similar to a bag of ramen right
much similar to a bag of ramen right think about that bag of ramen tucked
think about that bag of ramen tucked
think about that bag of ramen tucked away and the cupboard until that one
away and the cupboard until that one
away and the cupboard until that one night maybe in a moment of desperation
night maybe in a moment of desperation
night maybe in a moment of desperation or pang of craving you tear open that
or pang of craving you tear open that
or pang of craving you tear open that bag you add water wait a few minutes and
bag you add water wait a few minutes and
bag you add water wait a few minutes and bam instant ramen soup in the same way
bam instant ramen soup in the same way
bam instant ramen soup in the same way you can take
you can take
you can take our freeze-dried extract sprinkled with
our freeze-dried extract sprinkled with
our freeze-dried extract sprinkled with a specific DNA program and whenever you
a specific DNA program and whenever you
a specific DNA program and whenever you want whenever you want you just add
want whenever you want you just add
want whenever you want you just add water and again by our manufacturing
water and again by our manufacturing
water and again by our manufacturing capabilities at your fingertips we’ve
capabilities at your fingertips we’ve
capabilities at your fingertips we’ve taken essentially multi-million dollar
taken essentially multi-million dollar
taken essentially multi-million dollar factories that can produce biomolecules
factories that can produce biomolecules
factories that can produce biomolecules we’ve taken that capability and we’ve
we’ve taken that capability and we’ve
we’ve taken that capability and we’ve shrunk it so that fits down into the
shrunk it so that fits down into the
shrunk it so that fits down into the palm of your hand
palm of your hand
palm of your hand no you don’t need fancy laboratory
no you don’t need fancy laboratory
no you don’t need fancy laboratory equipment you don’t need huge
equipment you don’t need huge
equipment you don’t need huge refrigeration infrastructure
refrigeration infrastructure
refrigeration infrastructure you don’t need specialized scientific
you don’t need specialized scientific
you don’t need specialized scientific training to bake your molecules all you
training to bake your molecules all you
training to bake your molecules all you need is to just add water as a
need is to just add water as a
need is to just add water as a demonstration of the variety of
demonstration of the variety of
demonstration of the variety of molecules that you can produce we
molecules that you can produce we
molecules that you can produce we published a study last year where we
published a study last year where we
published a study last year where we went after a number of molecules we
went after a number of molecules we
went after a number of molecules we produced ten different peptide
produced ten different peptide
produced ten different peptide antibiotics using the system that can be
antibiotics using the system that can be
antibiotics using the system that can be used to treat bacterial infections it
used to treat bacterial infections it
used to treat bacterial infections it produced 15 different antibodies these
produced 15 different antibodies these
produced 15 different antibodies these are molecules that can be used as
are molecules that can be used as
are molecules that can be used as Diagnostics or therapeutics we produce
Diagnostics or therapeutics we produce
Diagnostics or therapeutics we produce four different vaccines and one of these
four different vaccines and one of these
four different vaccines and one of these was the diphtheria vaccine we selected
was the diphtheria vaccine we selected
was the diphtheria vaccine we selected that injected into mice and it worked it
that injected into mice and it worked it
that injected into mice and it worked it immunized mice and we also produced five
immunized mice and we also produced five
immunized mice and we also produced five enzymes that work together to convert
enzymes that work together to convert
enzymes that work together to convert tryptophan a very common and cheap amino
tryptophan a very common and cheap amino
tryptophan a very common and cheap amino acid into an anti-malarial and
acid into an anti-malarial and
acid into an anti-malarial and anti-cancer compound and all of this was
anti-cancer compound and all of this was
anti-cancer compound and all of this was just freeze-dried extract at room
just freeze-dried extract at room
just freeze-dried extract at room temperature sprinkled DNA and we just
temperature sprinkled DNA and we just
temperature sprinkled DNA and we just added water when we need it so this
added water when we need it so this
added water when we need it so this technology is only a few years old but
technology is only a few years old but
technology is only a few years old but we can already see useful areas where it
we can already see useful areas where it
we can already see useful areas where it can be applied the first area is
can be applied the first area is
can be applied the first area is on-demand therapeutics and diagnostics
on-demand therapeutics and diagnostics
on-demand therapeutics and diagnostics for field applications such as disaster
for field applications such as disaster
for field applications such as disaster relief think of a city where the
relief think of a city where the
relief think of a city where the infrastructure is poor or has been
infrastructure is poor or has been
infrastructure is poor or has been destroyed where the electricity and
destroyed where the electricity and
destroyed where the electricity and transportation chains have been
transportation chains have been
transportation chains have been compromised and imagine in this setting
compromised and imagine in this setting
compromised and imagine in this setting being able to produce life-saving
being able to produce life-saving
being able to produce life-saving insulin right when and where you need it
insulin right when and where you need it
insulin right when and where you need it insulin that would have otherwise
insulin that would have otherwise
insulin that would have otherwise spoiled because you have no electricity
spoiled because you have no electricity
spoiled because you have no electricity to power refrigeration
to power refrigeration
to power refrigeration or consider on-demand and on-site
or consider on-demand and on-site
or consider on-demand and on-site vaccine production to combat an outbreak
vaccine production to combat an outbreak
vaccine production to combat an outbreak in a remote region with this technology
in a remote region with this technology
in a remote region with this technology you can shrink an entire pharmacy
you can shrink an entire pharmacy
you can shrink an entire pharmacy potentially into a small portable box
potentially into a small portable box
potentially into a small portable box just find a source of clean water and
just find a source of clean water and
just find a source of clean water and you’re ready to go the second area that
you’re ready to go the second area that
you’re ready to go the second area that we see an impact is in the
we see an impact is in the
we see an impact is in the democratization of science so before to
democratization of science so before to
democratization of science so before to experiment with biology you needed
experiment with biology you needed
experiment with biology you needed pretty specialized and expensive
pretty specialized and expensive
pretty specialized and expensive equipment this technology does away with
equipment this technology does away with
equipment this technology does away with that now anyone can affordably begin to
that now anyone can affordably begin to
that now anyone can affordably begin to explore and experiment with
explore and experiment with
explore and experiment with biotechnology and bioengineering we
biotechnology and bioengineering we
biotechnology and bioengineering we think this will be especially
think this will be especially
think this will be especially transformative in science education now
transformative in science education now
transformative in science education now this allows a whole slew of biology
this allows a whole slew of biology
this allows a whole slew of biology experiments to be implemented in the
experiments to be implemented in the
experiments to be implemented in the classroom at a very low cost and with no
classroom at a very low cost and with no
classroom at a very low cost and with no specialized equipment think of it as
specialized equipment think of it as
specialized equipment think of it as synthetic biology version of the
synthetic biology version of the
synthetic biology version of the chemistry kit but for the 21st century
chemistry kit but for the 21st century
chemistry kit but for the 21st century and the third area that we see an impact
and the third area that we see an impact
and the third area that we see an impact is a bit further off in the future and
is a bit further off in the future and
is a bit further off in the future and it’s about how we can apply this
it’s about how we can apply this
it’s about how we can apply this on-demand technology with how we
on-demand technology with how we
on-demand technology with how we currently make our therapeutics what if
currently make our therapeutics what if
currently make our therapeutics what if you didn’t have to go to the pharmacy to
you didn’t have to go to the pharmacy to
you didn’t have to go to the pharmacy to pick up your medication your your
pick up your medication your your
pick up your medication your your insulin or your arthritis medication
insulin or your arthritis medication
insulin or your arthritis medication what if instead you just downloaded the
what if instead you just downloaded the
what if instead you just downloaded the information to make that drug and it’s
information to make that drug and it’s
information to make that drug and it’s made on demand right for you when and
made on demand right for you when and
made on demand right for you when and where you need it kind of like playing
where you need it kind of like playing
where you need it kind of like playing an mp3 or downloading an mp3 the
an mp3 or downloading an mp3 the
an mp3 or downloading an mp3 the benefits of this would actually be
benefits of this would actually be
benefits of this would actually be enormous because all drugs once made
enormous because all drugs once made
enormous because all drugs once made have an expiration date right and once
have an expiration date right and once
have an expiration date right and once the drugs hit their expiration dates
the drugs hit their expiration dates
the drugs hit their expiration dates they’re all thrown away even if they’re
they’re all thrown away even if they’re
they’re all thrown away even if they’re unused
unused
unused so there’s a massive amount of waste in
so there’s a massive amount of waste in
so there’s a massive amount of waste in the drug industry that contributes to
the drug industry that contributes to
the drug industry that contributes to our high health care costs what if you
our high health care costs what if you
our high health care costs what if you only made it the defeatist you need
only made it the defeatist you need
only made it the defeatist you need right went in where you needed it
and with that I’m gonna leave you with a
and with that I’m gonna leave you with a couple of thoughts one is that you don’t
couple of thoughts one is that you don’t
couple of thoughts one is that you don’t need a living cell to do biology it’s
need a living cell to do biology it’s
need a living cell to do biology it’s kind of surprising but it’s true the
kind of surprising but it’s true the
kind of surprising but it’s true the second thought
second thought
second thought is that just by controlling the presence
is that just by controlling the presence
is that just by controlling the presence or the absence of water you can put
or the absence of water you can put
or the absence of water you can put biology on pause for years maybe decades
biology on pause for years maybe decades
biology on pause for years maybe decades and the third thought is something for
and the third thought is something for
and the third thought is something for you to consider so biology is capable of
you to consider so biology is capable of
you to consider so biology is capable of fabricating things of incredible
fabricating things of incredible
fabricating things of incredible complexity just take a look in the
complexity just take a look in the
complexity just take a look in the mirror we are the product of natural bio
mirror we are the product of natural bio
mirror we are the product of natural bio manufacturing and now we’ve harnessed
manufacturing and now we’ve harnessed
manufacturing and now we’ve harnessed that power we’ve distilled that power
that power we’ve distilled that power
that power we’ve distilled that power into an incredibly practical format how
into an incredibly practical format how
into an incredibly practical format how will that change the way we make things
will that change the way we make things
will that change the way we make things I’m excited to see so stay tuned and
I’m excited to see so stay tuned and
I’m excited to see so stay tuned and with that I think I will hit the pause
with that I think I will hit the pause
with that I think I will hit the pause button for now
button for now
button for now thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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