Researchers vie to build the best ‘living machine’

Scientists from over 100 labs around the world are gearing up this week for a competition to build the best machine. But there’s only one condition — all the parts must come from living organisms.

More than 100 genetic engineering laboratories will compete using the microscopic components found inside biological cells. Instead of hinges and doorknobs, they must use the microscopic components found inside biological cells. Instead of screwdrivers and hammer-drills, the tools of the trade are those of the genetic engineer.

The organisers of the competition, which is now in its sixth year, hope that useful technology will be created from these basic building blocks of life, the Daily Telegraph reported on Wednesday.

Meagan Lizarazo, a former biologist and assistant director of the International Genetically Engineered Machine competition at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston said: “Our mission has been to see if we can use biological parts to build things and operate them. A lot of people said it’s too complex and can’t be done, but every year we have systems that show it can work.”

This week, the last of the teams, most of whom are students, will register for the competition. From June, they will spend three months building their machines from components ordered from MIT’s registry, which contains about 3,200 biological spare parts. The organisers hope the competition, which brings together some of the world’s most talented young researchers, will aid progress in synthetic biology.

One leading advocate of the technology is the American scientist and entrepreneur Craig Venter, who hopes not only to make bugs that produce hydrogen for environmentally friendly vehicles, but to create new life from scratch. AGENCIES

For astronauts, a kitchen garden on Moon

Lunar Oasis: Aiming To Grow Fresh Vegetables & Fruits In Space, Scientists Unveil Bell Jar Greenhouse

Tucson(Arizona): Astronauts’ meals have come a long way from the freezedried powders and semi-liquid pastes of decades ago: now US scientists want to grow vegetables in mini-greenhouses on the Moon.

Although space fare has steadily improved over time, a team of scientists says the best is yet to come. They look forward to when residents of future lunar or even Martian outposts can dine on luxuries such as fresh vegetables.

Paragon Space Development Corporation has unveiled what it called the first step toward growing flowers — and eventually food — on the Moon. Paragon, an Arizona company that has partnered with Nasa in previous experiments on the Space Shuttle and International Space Station, calls it a “Lunar Oasis”.

This is a sealed greenhouse that looks like a bell jar encased in a 1.5 foot tall triangular aluminum frame. It is designed to safely land a laboratory plant on the lunar surface, and protect it while it grows.

The miniature greenhouse is to be launched into space by Odyssey Moon Ltd, a participant in the Google Lunar X Prize. This competition offers $20 million to any entrant who can launch, land and operate a rover on the lunar surface.

Paragon officials say future testing of the “Lunar Oasis” will be driven by Odyssey’s flight schedule, which will not happen until 2012 at the earliest.

When it does lift off the greenhouse will contain the seeds of Brassica, a hardy plant related to Brussels sprouts and cabbage and used in the production of cooking oil and livestock feed.

Because Brassica goes from seed to flower in just 14 days, it can complete its life cycle in a single lunar night.

“Colonizing the Moon or Mars seems so far away, but it is important that we do this research now,” Paragon president Jane Poynter said. “It takes a long time to get a lot of research, and to get integrated, reliable efficient systems” before colonists move in, she said.

“I was pleased to see this (project) put together by Paragon,” said Gene Giacomelli, a professor at the University of Arizona Department of Plant Sciences. Giacomelli and students at the university’s Controlled Environment Agriculture Center (CEAC) are working on their own as-yet-unfunded lunar greenhouse.

The agriculture center also makes remote operational improvements to its existing, state-of-the-art hydroponic “growth chamber” at the National Science Foundation’s new Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in Antarctica. Conditions at the South Pole, which include a high-altitude, low air-pressure environment, and windchill factors of -100°C, make the project a “good analog” to conditions at a lunar outpost, Giacomelli said.

The South Pole greenhouse, now in its fifth year, allows workers living in the coldest place on Earth to dine on tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, strawberries and fragrant herbs. It produces about 27 kilos each week, enough to provide each of the 75 scientists there with two salads per day. “This isn’t science fiction,” Giacomelli said. “We have the technology to sustain life on the other planets right now, if we could get there.”

There are many challenges to growing plants in space, but the biggest is finding enough water on site to support a permanent outpost. AFP

OUT OF THIS WORLD: A plant growing in a space container

UK schools hire muscles to tame pupils

Bouncers are being employed by schools to take classes when teachers are not available. One London school went to a doormen’s agency for “cover supervisors”, who watch over lessons when teachers are away, and gave jobs to two bouncers, one of whom is still at the school.

The National Union of Teachers conference in Cardiff heard that schools were advertising for cover supervisors with military or police experience. Andrew Baisley, a maths teacher at a secondary school in Camden, North London, told delegates that head teachers were hiring almost anyone provided they had been checked by the Criminal Records Bureau.

Cover supervisors hand out worksheets and make sure that children behave. They have no teacher training and work is set by a teacher who does not stay in the classroom, reported the Times.

Baisley said: “The idea is about crowd control and childminding. If they’re stern and loud, that’s what’s necessary to do the job.” The wage, half that of supply teachers, was an incentive for supervisors to be used, he told the Times.

In Birmingham an education recruitment agency posted an advert online saying: “Hard core cover supervisors needed now!” and offered £50 to £70 a day. It said: “Aspire People are on the hunt for dynamic, inspiring, hard core cover supervisors. You might be an ex-Marine, prison officer, bouncer, policeman, fireman, sportsman or actor. We need someone who thinks they can get involved in a school environment and control the kids.”

Baisley said: “I know of a school which went to an agency to employ bouncers. One ended up with a disciplinary issue within the first term. The bouncers were monitoring lessons. They were big guys who had no teaching experience.”

The school was a secondary in a “not particularly tough area”, he said. “Some adverts for cover supervisors ask for applicants with ex-military or police experience. I think there’s something questionable about thinking that is an appropriate skill for the classroom.”

Sarah McCarthy-Fry, the schools minister, said: “Heads should ensure that the people they employ have experience and training — and that checks are carried out. Cover supervision should only be a short-term solution.

“Pupils should continue their learning through pre-prepared lessons and exercises supervised by support staff with appropriate skills and training. It is up to heads to determine systems for cover in their schools.”

The behaviour expert Sir Alan Steer, asked by the Government to examine behaviour in schools, is to report this week that disruptive children should be removed to “withdrawal rooms” and taught in isolation. AGENCIES