[BBF Standards] Questions about functional composition, functional definition, data exchange

[Barry Canton]

Hi Ralf,

You bring up some interesting topics that I'd like to follow-up on
(disclaimer: I'm one of the authors of the BBa_F2620 datasheet).

As you suggest, the objective of the BBa_F2620 datasheet was to
describe the device in a manner that facilitates its reuse with other
parts/devices.  As a result, the data on the sheet is heavily
influenced by the kinds of data found on a typical engineering
datasheet.  In our experience, typical engineering datasheets describe
-

1. Device definition and where the device may be used.
2. Static device behavior
3. Dynamic device behavior
4. Device compatibility (with other devices, environmental conditions etc.)
5. Device reliability
6. Power requirements of the device

In our estimation, those six items are also suitable to describe a
wide range of biological devices (and can be found in some form on the
BBa_F2620 datasheet).  The exact characteristics for each item may
vary between device families of course (e.g. linearity of static
response for sensors, static gain for amplifiers/inverters etc.)

Our early list of six items is likely to be either insufficient or
overly detailed depending on how people actually use biological
devices in practice.  Hence, there is a role for the BBF technical
standards group in specifying the actual set of important data
characteristics for a range of devices and users.  However, standard
setting is hard to do until we have a large body of data on the
behavior of devices alone and in combination.  Hopefully through the
work of iGEM teams and research labs that data will be forthcoming
soon.

Go forth and measure! (and share the data in a standard machine-readable format)

Barry



-- 
Barry Canton
Endy Lab
Biological Engineering Division
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Tel.:(617) 401-7320 (Grand Central)
Email1: bcanton at mit.edu
Email2: bcanton at gmail.com