Michael Jewett is a pioneer of cell-free biotechnology. Instead of using living microbes as factories, he uses their internal molecular machinery to make valuable proteins, medicines, diagnostics, and other chemicals. Jewett recently used the technique for vaccine production in an approach that could produce up to 150,000 doses from one liter. He believes cell-free biotech could democratize the production of essential medicines, improve water safety, and help convert atmospheric carbon into useful products, among other promising possibilities. “It’s just-add-water biotechnology,” Jewett tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.
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Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Russ Altman introduces Mike Jewett, a professor of bioengineering and chemical engineering at Stanford University.
(00:03:23) What Is Cell-Free Biotechnology?
Using the internal machinery of cells without the cells themselves.
(00:04:20) Removing “Evolutionary Baggage”
Why cells’ natural priorities can conflict with engineering goals.
(00:07:41) Advantages of Cell-Free Systems
From large-scale production to decentralized, on-demand manufacturing.
(00:11:40) Making Proteins Outside Cells
How DNA instructions are used to produce functional proteins.
(00:13:49) Biosensors for Water Safety
Detecting contaminants like lead using engineered proteins.
(00:17:05) Engineering Better Sensors
Improving sensitivity and selectivity through protein design.
(00:20:33) AI in Bioengineering
How data and models accelerate discovery and design.
(00:23:22) Sustainability & Carbon Capture
Turning atmospheric carbon into useful chemicals.
(00:26:18) Building New Biological Pathways
Combining chemistry and biology to create novel production systems.
(00:27:54) From Molecules to Materials
How acetyl-CoA enables fuels, plastics, and other products.
(00:30:51) Teaching Biotechnology
Making biotech accessible through hands-on, “just-add-water” kits.
(00:33:12) Future In a Minute
Rapid-fire Q&A: innovation, collaboration, and the future of biotech.
(00:35:32) Conclusion
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