@mastersthesis{10902/26003,
year = {2022},
month = {6},
url = {https://hdl.handle.net/10902/26003},
abstract = {ABSTRACT :
Synthetic Biology (SynBio) seeks to reprogram systems that are already found in nature to 
produce computer-like behaviours, that is to render more programmable, robust, and tightly 
controlled biological systems. SynBio circuits can be built into a single cell or distributed in a 
population. In the first case, the complexity of the circuits is impaired by the burden imposed on 
the cell. Genetic circuits distributed in a community generally rely on chemical messengers to 
connect them, but they exhibit low specificity, leading to circuit crosstalk. Inspired by other cell cell communication strategies, we propose the use of plasmids to wire the computing populations 
via conjugation. Indeed, our research group succeeded in implementing AND and OR logic gates 
distributed in three bacterial populations, as well as in plugging them into combinational circuits. 
In this work, we have advanced in complexity and designed the architecture of a plasmid-based 
Programmable Logic Array (PLA), a device able to calculate any Boolean function. To this end, 
we designed and built NOT logic gates based on fertility inhibition, as well as YES logic gates 
based on conditional replication. In the construction step, different plasmid backbones, fertility 
inhibition genes, and replicons were evaluated. The performance of the NOT logic gates was 
tested by conjugation assays, and optimal conditions were set up, achieving distinguishable “1” 
or “0” outputs. The YES logic gates were assessed by growth curves. These devices have potential 
applications in several fields, such as biocomputing, biomanufacturing, or theragnosis.},
title = {Taming plasmids for  Synthetic Biology},
author = {García López, Daniel},
}