We’re familiar with open source software and open source data.  Now it looks like we need to add open source molecular biology to the list.

The same concepts that have lead to open source rockin the software world have spawned the beginning of a revolution in biotech. An organization called Biofab, funded by the NSF and run through teams at Stanford and Berkeley, is applying open development approaches to creating building blocks (BioBricks^TM from BioBricks Foundation) for the bio products of the future. Now, the first of those building blocks based on E. coli are just rolling off the production line. This, according to the organizers, represents “a new paradigm for biological research.” (via)

Read more:

• Biofab project website
• BioBricks Foundation
• BioBricks Public Use Agreement