Synthetic biology

Synthetic biology is the application of engineering principles to the fundamental components of biology.

The hottest new field in biotech is synthetic biology: Scientists can now re-program life at the cellular level, just like a computer program. Syn-bio experts (also known as bio-hackers) are re-programming the DNA in viruses and creating novel life forms that can replicate and grow just like natural single cell organisms.

Condensed timeline of synthetic biology.

"Synthetic biology is the engineering of biology: the synthesis of complex, biologically based (or inspired) systems which display functions that do not exist in nature. This engineering perspective may be applied at all levels of the hierarchy of biological structures – from individual molecules to whole cells, tissues and organisms. In essence, synthetic biology will enable the design of ‘biological systems’ in a rational and systematic way."
- High-level Expert Group European Commission 2005

External links

• Wageningen University Synthetic Biology long read
• Synthetic Biology Project
• Nature Latest Research and Reviews
• Slate What Exactly Is Synthetic Biology? by Jacob Brogan April 2017
• Synthetic biology on Wikipedia
• World Science Festival on YouTube