CH391L/S14/BioBricks
What are BioBricks, and what is their purpose?
Before BioBricks, there was little standardization in assembly techniques for DNA sequences. It was necessary to create a standardized system of biological building blocks to enable scientists to go beyond the experiment of DNA assembly and allow them to focus on more complicated research. BioBricks were created as a set of standard and interchangeable “parts” that could be assembled into sub-components. According to the Registry of Standard Biological Parts, which contains DNA for thousands of previously created parts submitted by iGEM members, a standard biological part is “a functional unit of DNA that encodes for a specific biological function. Parts have been standardized so they can be used to efficiently develop biological systems in living cells." The advantage of BioBricks is that the assembly of these parts could be outsourced to others and new experimentation could rely heavily on previously manufactured components. The BioBricks foundation was co-founded in 2005 by Drew Endy. Tom Knight and Drew Endy also helped co-found the Registry of Standard Biological Parts.[1]
