# From Lab to Life: Exploring Synthetic Biology

*Author: David Hoffman*
*Published: Jul 6, 2023*
*Source: https://www.bankless.com/podcast/zuzalu-synbio*

---

Welcome to Bankless, where we explore the frontier of internet money and internet finance. In this 8-episode series, we are exploring some new frontiers. New frontiers in new technologies, all of which are poised to completely revolutionize the world and change everything about the operating system that society is currently running.

Synthetic biology is a fascinating field that combines biology, engineering, and computer science to design and construct new biological systems. By manipulating and reprogramming the DNA of living organisms, scientists can create new functions and traits that do not occur naturally. It's like rewriting the instruction manual of life itself, similar to how we write computer code.

In this video, you'll hear from three leaders in the synthetic biology industry—Drew Endy, John Cumbers, and Jennifer Holmgren—who will expand our understanding and imagination of this exciting field.

Keep an eye out as we roll out the rest of these boundary-pushing episodes!

---

### Timestamps
0:00 Intro

0:50 What is Synthetic Biology?

3:35 The Guests

7:45 DREW ENDY

11:00 Biological Building Blocks

14:15 Understanding the Cell

18:30 The Power of Wetware

22:30 Code and DNA

28:00 The Business Model

30:30 The Biological Revolution

37:00 Longevity

39:20 The Landscape of Possibility

51:00 JOHN CUMBERS

54:30 The Synthetic Biology Rabbit Hole

58:30 Fermentation

1:03:15 Scaling the Revolution

1:07:00 Programming Nature

1:11:45 SciFi Infrastructure

1:19:15 A Grand Vision

1:23:00 Hijacking Biology

1:26:30 A Beautiful Future

1:33:45 JENNIFER HOLMGREN

1:36:00 Building a Circular Economy

1:40:00 Lanzatech

1:44:30 The Renewable Ethylene Business

1:48:30 The Fermentation Revolution

1:51:40 Biological Utopia

---

### Resources
Drew Endy

[https://twitter.com/DrewEndy?s=20](https://twitter.com/DrewEndy?s=20)

John Cumbers

[https://twitter.com/johncumbers?s=20](https://twitter.com/johncumbers?s=20)

Jennifer Holmgren

[https://twitter.com/TodaDogs?s=20](https://twitter.com/TodaDogs?s=20)

Lanzatech

[https://lanzatech.com/](https://lanzatech.com/)

Checkerspot

[https://checkerspot.com/](https://checkerspot.com/)

Biomason

[https://biomason.com/](https://biomason.com/)

Adidas Jacket

[https://www.tennispro.eu/adidas-melbourne-reversible-jacket-582214.html#description](https://www.tennispro.eu/adidas-melbourne-reversible-jacket-582214.html#description)