Bioengineering is not programming
by Louis Metzger
The precise engineering of biology will play a major role in the future of the world’s economy. While technical advances have made this feasible, there is much yet to learn. It is therefore important to understand that the engineering of biology is not, as it is frequently portrayed, entirely analogous to programming.
This seminar introduced non-professional biologists to the types of information encoded by genomes and affected by numerous chemical processes and interactions. As we explored the layers of biology’s complexity, we tried to equip the audience with appreciation for opportunities in the areas of medicine, “green chemistry”, environmental remediation, and material science. Along the way, we paused to examine marvels ranging from toxic mushrooms to cephalopod intelligence.
The seminar was taught by Louis Metzger. He believes that the precise engineering of biology will enable a coming revolution in how humans live, work, and interact with our planet.
Inspired by his undergraduate research in the computational modeling of protein-small molecule interactions, Louis earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry at Duke University, where his work lay at the intersection of enzymology, lipid biochemistry, and bacterial membrane biogenesis. He subsequently performed postdoctoral research at UCSF, where he employed protein X-ray crystallography to study enzymes’ structures and functions. Louis then joined Novartis (2012-18), where he spent six years developing technologies in protein chemistry and contributing to therapeutic projects in diverse disease areas. In addition to founding and leading an antibacterial discovery team, Louis served on an outward-facing Novartis search and evaluation task force, a role which sparked his enthusiasm for the Bay Area’s vibrant biotechnology ecosystem. Since 2018, he has served as Chief Scientific Officer of Tierra Biosciences (formerly Synvitrobio, Inc.).
You can find the presentation from this seminar here and watch it on YouTube here.
