Title: Synthetic Biology Approaches to Engineering Human Cells
Description: The field of synthetic biology seeks to revolutionize the scope and scale of what is currently feasible by genetic engineering. By focusing on engineering general signal processing platforms using modular genetic parts and devices rather than `one-off' systems, synthetic biologists aim to enable plug-and-play genetic circuits readily adaptable to different contexts. For mammalian systems, the goal of synthetic biology is to create sophisticated research tools and gene therapies. While several isolated parts and devices exist for mammalian systems there are few signal processing platforms available. We addressed this need by creating a transcriptional regulatory framework using programmable zinc finger (ZF) and TALE transcription factors and a conceptual framework for logical T-cell receptor signaling.