Jay Keasling
Encyclopedia
Dr. Jay D. Keasling is a Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Bioengineering at the University of California, Berkeley
. He is also Associate Laboratory Director for Biosciences at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
, the Founding Head of the Synthetic Biology Department in the Physical Biosciences Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and chief executive officer
of the Joint BioEnergy Institute
. He is considered one of the foremost authorities in synthetic biology
, especially in the field of metabolic engineering
. Other, related research interests include systems biology
and environmental biotechnology
.
Keasling's current research involves the metabolic engineering of the Escherichia coli
bacterium to produce biofuels and of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae
yeast to produce the anti-malarial drug artemisinin
. Although it is an effective, proven treatment for malaria
, current methods of producing artemisinin
(found naturally in the plant Artemisia annua
) are considered too expensive to cost-effectively eliminate malaria from developing countries. By producing the drug from a microbe, rather than harvesting it from a plantation, the Keasling Lab intends to lower the cost of artemisinin production from $2.40 per dose to $0.25 per dose.
In 2009, Keasling was awarded the first annual Biotech Humanitarian Award by BIO, the Biotechnology Industry Organization
. In 2004, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation awarded a shared $42.5 million grant to the Keasling Lab, Amyris Biotechnologies, and the Institute for OneWorld Health to develop and distribute the low-cost malaria treatment. In 2006 Discover magazine awarded its first ever Scientist of the Year Award to Jay Keasling. Keasling is a member of the National Academy of Engineering.
Jay Keasling received his Bachelor's Degree at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He received his Ph.D from the University of Michigan
in 1991. He is originally from Harvard, Nebraska
and is openly gay
.
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
. He is also Associate Laboratory Director for Biosciences at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , is a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory conducting unclassified scientific research. It is located on the grounds of the University of California, Berkeley, in the Berkeley Hills above the central campus...
, the Founding Head of the Synthetic Biology Department in the Physical Biosciences Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and chief executive officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of the Joint BioEnergy Institute
Joint BioEnergy Institute
The Joint BioEnergy Institute is a research institute funded by the Department of Energy of the United States. It is led by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and includes participation from the Sandia National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, as well as UC Berkeley, UC...
. He is considered one of the foremost authorities in synthetic biology
Synthetic biology
Synthetic biology is a new area of biological research that combines science and engineering. It encompasses a variety of different approaches, methodologies, and disciplines with a variety of definitions...
, especially in the field of metabolic engineering
Metabolic engineering
Metabolic engineering is the practice of optimizing genetic and regulatory processes within cells to increase the cells' production of a certain substance. These processes are chemical networks that use a series of biochemical reactions and enzymes that allow cells to convert raw materials into...
. Other, related research interests include systems biology
Systems biology
Systems biology is a term used to describe a number of trends in bioscience research, and a movement which draws on those trends. Proponents describe systems biology as a biology-based inter-disciplinary study field that focuses on complex interactions in biological systems, claiming that it uses...
and environmental biotechnology
Environmental biotechnology
Environmental biotechnology is when biotechnology is applied to and used to study the natural environment. Environmental biotechnology could also imply that one try to harness biological process for commercial uses and exploitation...
.
Keasling's current research involves the metabolic engineering of the Escherichia coli
Escherichia coli
Escherichia coli is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium that is commonly found in the lower intestine of warm-blooded organisms . Most E. coli strains are harmless, but some serotypes can cause serious food poisoning in humans, and are occasionally responsible for product recalls...
bacterium to produce biofuels and of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a species of yeast. It is perhaps the most useful yeast, having been instrumental to baking and brewing since ancient times. It is believed that it was originally isolated from the skin of grapes...
yeast to produce the anti-malarial drug artemisinin
Artemisinin
Artemisinin , also known as Qinghaosu , and its derivatives are a group of drugs that possess the most rapid action of all current drugs against falciparum malaria. Treatments containing an artemisinin derivative are now standard treatment worldwide for falciparum malaria...
. Although it is an effective, proven treatment for malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
, current methods of producing artemisinin
Artemisinin
Artemisinin , also known as Qinghaosu , and its derivatives are a group of drugs that possess the most rapid action of all current drugs against falciparum malaria. Treatments containing an artemisinin derivative are now standard treatment worldwide for falciparum malaria...
(found naturally in the plant Artemisia annua
Artemisia annua
Artemisia annua, also known as Sweet Wormwood, Sweet Annie, Sweet Sagewort or Annual Wormwood , is a common type of wormwood that is native to temperate Asia, but naturalized throughout the world.-Characteristics:...
) are considered too expensive to cost-effectively eliminate malaria from developing countries. By producing the drug from a microbe, rather than harvesting it from a plantation, the Keasling Lab intends to lower the cost of artemisinin production from $2.40 per dose to $0.25 per dose.
In 2009, Keasling was awarded the first annual Biotech Humanitarian Award by BIO, the Biotechnology Industry Organization
Biotechnology Industry Organization
Biotechnology Industry Organization is an industry lobby group founded 1993 in Washington, D.C. Carl B. Feldbaum was the president until he retired in 2004, and was succeeded by James C. Greenwood.-External links:* *...
. In 2004, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation awarded a shared $42.5 million grant to the Keasling Lab, Amyris Biotechnologies, and the Institute for OneWorld Health to develop and distribute the low-cost malaria treatment. In 2006 Discover magazine awarded its first ever Scientist of the Year Award to Jay Keasling. Keasling is a member of the National Academy of Engineering.
Jay Keasling received his Bachelor's Degree at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He received his Ph.D from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1991. He is originally from Harvard, Nebraska
Harvard, Nebraska
Harvard is a city in Clay County, Nebraska, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 998. It is part of the Hastings, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Harvard is located at ....
and is openly gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
.