Biology Faculty Articles

Title

Quantitative Analysis of the Spatiotemporal Dynamics of a Synthetic Predator-Prey Ecosystem, In: Synthetic Gene Networks

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2012

Publication Title

Methods in Molecular Biology

Keywords

Synthetic ecosystem Quorum sensing Predator–prey ecosystem Microbial consortia Biodiversity Synthetic biology Bidirectional communication Gene circuit

ISSN

1064-3745

Volume

813

First Page

315

Last Page

330

Abstract

A major focus in synthetic biology is the rational design and implementation of gene circuits to control dynamics of individual cells and, increasingly, cellular populations. Population-level control is highlighted in recent studies which attempt to design and implement synthetic ecosystems (or engineered microbial consortia). On the one hand, these engineered systems may serve as a critical technological foundation for practical applications. On the other hand, they may serve as well-defined model systems to examine biological questions of broad relevance. Here, using a synthetic predator–prey ecosystem as an example, we illustrate the basic experimental techniques involved in system implementation and characterization. By extension, these techniques are applicable to the analysis of other microbial-based synthetic or natural ecosystems.

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