Team:Hong Kong HKUST/hp/interview/yu

Overview

This article will present information compiled from different online sources such as universities’ websites, newspaper, articles, and organizations’ websites. The information was searched both in English and Bahasa Indonesia. Information in Bahasa Indonesia was translated into English by Indonesian teammates. The general trend that we have notice from research is that information about synthetic biology in Indonesia is very limited. This might be due to the fact that not many people in Indonesia know about this subject. Information of biotechnology, however, was more abundant. Many companies and universities are participating in biotechnology development. Most of the research related to biotechnology focus on agriculture. In the future, following this trend in biotechnology, synthetic biology may also be used to improve agriculture in Indonesia.

Main Discussion

Professor Yu mentioned that our project is a small step and that we have a long way to go to apply our project as commercial biotechnology product. He told us that because we are trying to insert genes into a human body, we need to be very careful with concluding how our project could be realistically applied in the future. Inserting genes into a human body can create novel metabolism that can cause side effects. Also, because the general public considers obesity less harmful, people might be reluctant to use an invasive product if they believe a less invasive means such as exercising can solve the problem. He also encouraged us to look into other plant genes that could be used to cure fatal diseases.

We have also discussed about issues on bio-safety and bio-ethics. Professor Yu said that we need to be responsible scientists and utilize the research to improve human life. He also mentioned to produce a bio-product, it is very important to consider the ethical issues of the project from the very start.

Conclusion

The interview with Professor Albert Yu helped us to have a realistic view of our project. The interview also showed that more in-depth consideration of our project’s future application is necessary if we want to see are project utilized a safe bio-product.

Interview Video

Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) iGEM 2013 team conducted interviews with 5 random citizens in Indonesia. The interviewees came from different background. The interviews reveal that all of the interviewees did not know what synthetic biology meant. (R.N, 2013). The term synthetic biology did appear in newspapers and blogs, but no formal studies have been conducted to measure the perception of synthetic biology in Indonesia. Considering that not many people are fully understand with the term biotechnology, it seems like the concept synthetic biology, a relatively new field, is even less prevalent.

Research, People & Organizations

Research

Scientists in Indonesia are actively conducting researches related to biology and biotechnology. For example, Indonesian Institute of Sciences Biotechnology Research Center (LIPI) has been conducting numerous researches related to biotechnology. It is probably these kinds of research institutes that will adopt synthetic biology techniques once it becomes more prevalent in Indonesia.

The following table summarizes some of the researches of LIPI

People

Organization

There are several science organizations that could be found online. Some of them are in the field of biotechnology. None of them are explicitly related to synthetic biology.

1. Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI)
2. Indonesian Academy of Sciences (AIPI)
3. PT. Biotek Sarana Industri: A private industry that works in the field of biotechnology, chemical trading, agro

industry and pharmaceutical for pest control at commodity warehouse and farms.

4. PT. Jirona Agritama: A subsidiary of Biotech Group, which is engaged in trade in agricultural products

and plantations like oil palm, rubber, andcocoa, the main herbicide and insecticide products.

5. KALBE: A public pharmaceutical company, which focused on prescription pharmaceuticals, consumer health

products, nutritionals, and distribution and logistics. Kalbe established two institutes:

a. Stem Cell and Cancer Institute (SCI): SCI is a center for stem cell and cancer research, prepared to be the

basis for future therapy development to replace conventional drugs and therapy.

b. Innogene Kalbiotech: A subsidiary of Kalbe established as a basis to develop competence in biotechnology-

based products. Innogene is actively involved in the acquisition, development and commercialization of products, one of the most prominent being TheraCIM, a monoclonal antibody for targeted cancer therapy.

Education

There thousands of universities in Indonesia, but only some of them teach synthetic biology or biotechnology. Some universities don’t have biology course. Biotechnology and synthetic biology are taught mainly in big universities such as University of Indonesia and Gajah Mada University.

References

iGEM Competition
Daftar lengkap perguruan tinggi negeri dan swasta di indonesia. (n.d.). Retrieved from jamarisonline.blogspot.hk/2011/06/daftar-lengkap-perguruan-tinggi-negeri.html
Figure:
[Image]. Retrieved August 21, 2013, from: tatiuc.edu.my/icet2013/LOGO/ipb.gif
[Image]. 2013. Retrieved August 21, 2013, from: banpt.blogspot.hk/2013/02/akreditasi-ban-pt-itb-tahun-2013.html
[Image]. Retrieved August 21, 2013, from: mhs.blog.ui.ac.id/roboboatui/category/uncategorized/

Funding of Biotechnology
Riset bioteknologi: Terkendala minimnya anggaran. (2012, July 16). Retrieved from www.ipotnews.com/index.php?jdl=RISET_BIOTEKNOLOGI__terkendala_minimnya_anggaran&level2=newsandopinion&level3=&level4=marketoverview
&id=1465932 Dana 2012. (2013, July 10). Retrieved from www.biotek.lipi.go.id/index.php/profile/dana
Figure:
[Image]. Retrieved August 21, 2013, from: www.koki.lipi.go.id/
[Image]. Retrieved August 21, 2013, www.nyananews.com/2013/05/30/bppt-minta-e-voting-dimulai-jembrana/

Perception of Synthetic Biology
R.N, R. (2013). Imajinasi masyarakat indonesia tentang sel[Web]. Retrieved from: synbio.itb.ac.id/

Research, People, Organization
Santoso, A., Kitagawa, N., Wardiana, A., Kusumawati, A., Puji Septisetyani, E., Kawaichi, M., Rubiyana, Y., & Hadiwisnuwardhani, P. (2012). Producksi Protein Farmasetik Recombinant Human Erythropoietin (rhepo) dengan Modifikasi Pola Glikosilasi. Retrieved from insentif.ristek.go.id/PROSIDING2012/file-KO-Word_32.pdf
Zaenal Mustopa, A., Susilaningsih, D., Sukmarini, L., Ridwan, M., Delicia, & Hasim (2012). Pengembangan polisakarida dari mikroalga btm 11 sebagai inhibitor rna helikase virus hepatitis c. Retrieved from insentif.ristek.go.id/PROSIDING2012/file-KO-Word_26.pdf
Zaenal Mustopa, A., Tarman, K., & Safithri, M. (2012). Pengembangan protein antikanker dari kapang endofit indigenous laut indonesia xylaria psidii kt30. Retrieved from insentif.ristek.go.id/PROSIDING2012/file-KO-Word_40.pdf
Figure:
[Image]. Retrieved August 21, 2013, from: www.koki.lipi.go.id/
[Image]. Retrieved August 21, 2013, from: www.biotek-group.com/sarana_industri/index.html
[Image]. Retrieved August 21, 2013, from: logos.wikia.com/wiki/Kalbe
[Image]. Retrieved August 21, 2013, from: www.innogene-kalbiotech.com/
[Image]. Retrieved August 21, 2013, from:  www.ugm.ac.id/new/en/about-us/meaning-symbol.xhtml
[Image]. Retrieved August 21, 2013, from: www.ubaya.ac.id/
[Image]. Retrieved August 21, 2013, from:  www.unud.ac.id/eng/official-shield-and-motto/logo