In this episode, our guest is Mustafa Khammash. Mustafa is the director of the Control Theory and Systems Biology Lab at ETH Zürich and guides us in this episode as we explore Cybergenetics - the cutting-edge intersection of control theory and synthetic biology. From biomolecular control to antithetic motifs, we discuss real-world applications and ethical dilemmas. Don't miss it! Outline 00:00 - Intro 00:50 - Cybergenetics 02:22 - Genetics 101 05:07- Where control meets biology 06:49 - Mustafa's early steps in biology: why do dairy cows get milk fever? 12:05 - Systems and synthetic biology 14:34 - History of synthetic biology 17:16 - On biological computing 23:23 - On biomolecular control 29:27 - The birth of the Antithetic motif for molecular feedback control 39:25 - Enabling technologies 48:28 - How the antithetic motif works 57:20 - Model organisms 01:00:45 - Applications of Cybergenetics 01:06:45 - Ethical dilemmas in Cybergenetics 01:10:57 - On the internal model principle 01:16:01 - Advice to future students 01:19:51 - Outro Links - Mustafa’s website: https://bsse.ethz.ch/ctsb - Paper on calcium regulation: https://tinyurl.com/4p9xu8j2 - History of synthetic biology: https://tinyurl.com/2p8ej8fw - Motifs: https://tinyurl.com/3vcnjvj3 - Paper - In silico feedback for in vivo regulation of a gene expression circuit: https://tinyurl.com/yw98d8k8 - Paper - A universal biomolecular integral feedback controller for robust perfect adaptation: https://tinyurl.com/bddux4x3 - Optogenetics: https://tinyurl.com/r6yw9s37 - About the fluorescent protein: https://tinyurl.com/bdzm37fs - Electroporation: https://tinyurl.com/3hhjxanp - Paper - Cybergenetics: Theory and Applications of Genetic Control Systems: https://tinyurl.com/222f8924 - Paper - Universal structural requirements for maximal robust perfect adaptation in biomolecular networks: https://tinyurl.com/3a2bm35f Podcast info Podcast website: https://www.incontrolpodcast.com/ Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/5n84j85j Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/4rwztj3c RSS: https://tinyurl.com/yc2fcv4y Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/bdbvhsj6 Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/3z24yr43 Twitter: https://twitter.com/IncontrolP Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/35cu4kr4 Acknowledgments and sponsors This episode was supported by the National Centre of Competence in Research on «Dependable, ubiquitous automation» and the IFAC Activity fund. The podcast benefits from the help of an incredibly talented and passionate team. Special thanks to B. Seward, E. Cahard, F. Banis, F. Dörfler, J. Lygeros, as well as the ETH and mirrorlake studios. Music was composed by A New Element.  Support the show