Nucleic Acid Engineering
Contributors:
Dr. Adolf Beyer-lein
Retired Chair and Professor
Emeritus
Dept. of Chemistry
Clemson University
Dr. Wusi Maki
Research Professor
Center for Advanced
Microelectronics and Biomolecular Research
University of Idaho
Dr. Hua Helen Wang
Assistant Professor
Dept. o Food Science &
Technology
The Ohio State University
Dr. Dan Luo
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Biological and
Environmental Engineering
Cornell University
Background and
Rationale
• Nucleic acid engineering is a bottom-up
nanotechnology approach.
• Nucleic acid engineering is focusing on
creating novel materials by intelligent
design at the nano scale.
• Nucleic acid engineering is a platform of
technology that can be applied to a myriad
of applications in the agriculture and food
system.
• Nucleic acid engineering is an evolving
new field of study.
Background and
Rationale
• Nucleic acid engineering is a multidisciplinary
technology, encompassing: molecular biology, chemistry,
microelectronics, polymer sciences, etc.
•
Knowledge and technology developed from health
sciences (e.g., from NIH) and plant could be borrowed
and adapted to animals and other agricultural system by
nucleic acid engineering (analogy: similar road signs)
•
Nucleic acid engineering can be combined with
microelectronics, chemistry, polymers and biomolecular
research to yield more potential building block at the
nanoscale. Examples: chemically modified nucleic acids,
DNA molecule doping (DNA conductor, Dr. Alocilja,
Biosystems Engineering, Michigan State Univ.), polymerDNA hybrids, etc.
Background and
Rationale
• Nucleic acid engineering is a platform
technology that can find a myriad of
applications for the agriculture and food
systems, examples (in no particular order):
• Signal amplification
• Bio-separation/Bio-films
• DNA delivery (gene therapy/vaccination/Disease
prevention)
• Vet. Medicine
• Bioprobes
• Biosensor
• Nanomaterials for agriculture and food
Specific opportunities in
theme area
• Novel nanomaterials by design
•
DNA nanowires
•
DNA-microelectronic hybrids
• Molecular recognition and/or molecular probes for
pathogen detection
•
DNA delivery for value added animal/plant products
•
Veterinarian medicine (gene therapy, DNA vaccination,
disease diagnosis and prevention)
•
Transgenic/cloning research
•
Bioseparation/biofilms
Specific opportunities in
theme area
•
Bioselective surfaces (different molecules to DNA; DNA
pattern at the surface, porous metal with DNA, controlled
pore size of DNA film, controlled molecular structure for
filtration (example: protein separation from corn, Cargill),
etc.)
•
Nanoprocessing: DNA resist/DNA photolithography (DNA
is a good sacrificial materials), DNA nanocircuits
•
Biosecurity (DNA sensing for specificity? Multi-probes?
DNA barcoding?)
•
Environmental processing (?)
•
Sustainable Agriculture (?)
Priorities for CSREES
• Obesity, Human Nutrition, and
Food Science
• Genomics and Future Food and
Fiber Production and Quality
• Agricultural Security
• Food Safety
Potential outcomes and
impacts of the research
•
We can build nano-electronic products and devices that
combines both organic and inorganic components for
agricultural applications
•
•
•
More control in scale (carbon nanotubes)
More specific
More quantitative
•
We can create nano-materials that can be designed and
controlled at the nanoscale
•
We can detect, with high specificity and multi-functionalities,
pathogens for food safety and in the veterinarian medicine
(diagnosis).
•
We can develop DNA delivery systems for value added
agricultural products (animals and plants) and other applications
(transgenic, cloning, assisted reproduction, etc.)
Potential outcomes and
impacts of the research
• We can design new separation methods and/or
novel DNA films with more sophisticated and
controllable microstructure for agricultural
applications (e.g., protein separation from
agriculture products).
• We can impact veterinarian medicine (diagnosis,
therapy, disease prevention, etc.)
• We can demonstrate bottom-up approach in
agriculture and food systems, thus impact
nanotechnology in general.
• We can achieve other impacts! 
Input for recommended
budget priorities
• Rationale:
• 30 million total (NSEAFS)
• 3.6 million for nucleic acid engineering
•
•
•
•
On average, $200k/grant/year
11 Fund. Research projects
3 Exploratory projects
Center for challenge: 1-(2) might be needed
for NSEAFS
− Will contribute 200k
• 300k for infrastructure (2-3 awards)
• 320k for education
− 1 REU (contribution)
− 4 graduate fellowships (for 4 years)