November 8, 2014 Image Caption: First Color Image From Viking Lander 1. Credit: NASA Provided by Lynn Yarris, Berkeley Lab Berkeley Lab Scientists Believe Biomanufacturing a Key to Long-term Manned Space Missions Does synthetic biology hold the key to manned space exploration of the Moon and Mars? Berkeley Lab researchers have used synthetic biology to produce an inexpensive and reliable microbial-based alternative to the worlds most effective anti-malaria drug, and to develop clean, green and sustainable alternatives to gasoline, diesel and jet fuels. In the future, synthetic biology could also be used to make manned space missions more practical. Not only does synthetic biology promise to make the travel to extraterrestrial locations more practical and bearable, it could also be transformative once explorers arrive at their destination, says Adam Arkin, director of Berkeley Labs Physical Biosciences Division (PBD) and a leading authority on synthetic and systems biology. During flight, the ability to augment fuel and other energy needs, to provide small amounts of needed materials, plus renewable, nutritional and taste-engineered food, and drugs-on-demand can save costs and increase astronaut health and welfare, Arkin says. At an extraterrestrial base, synthetic biology could make even more effective use of the catalytic activities … Continue reading →