Key Applications of Synthetic Biotechnology

Using synthetic genomics, synthetic biologists can create new genes for reformed or unique organisms.

FREMONT, CA: Synthetic biology (SB) is a field of study that employs science and technology to construct or remodel existing biological systems or new species, such as enzymes, genetic circuits, and cells. It derives from numerous scientific disciplines, including biology, engineering, and computer science. SB differs from standard genetic engineering in terms of the complexity of organisms or systems generated by researchers. Rather than focusing on the expression of individual genes or gene components, the goal is to design and construct biological systems at each level of the organization using genetic networks and whole-organism collaboration. The modification of an organism's genome might have unanticipated effects and increase the genome's complexity.

Health application

Several unique diagnostic procedures have been developed due to synthetic biology techniques focused on rapid design and iterative prototyping of gene circuits. Many of these solutions continue and demonstrate the field's increasing maturity concerning crucial biomedical challenges. SB offers potential advantages for immunoassay creation, diagnosis, drug screening, the generation of novel antibiotics, drug manufacturing, and the development of sensor-effector therapeutics. SB has been effectively applied to diagnosing communicable and non-communicable diseases, including cancer, coronary artery disease, Ebola, Zika, tuberculosis, malaria, HIV, SARS-CoV-2, regular blood test quantification, and water quality monitoring. The combination of sensor effectors and mammalian cell reprogramming may soon pave the way for genetic and cellular therapies, as demonstrated by recent research on animal models of human diseases.

Agricultural applications

Synthetic biology also yields significant agricultural benefits. It can boost sustainable crop-based fuel output. Producing plant hormones with SB will allow for the manipulation of crop nutrient uptake and the reduction of applied nutrients.

Through biosensors, synthetic speciation, microbial metabolic engineering, multiplexed mammalian CRISPR, and the development of novel antimicrobial compounds, this technology plays a vital role in the transformation of agriculture over the long run. SB will produce goods to reduce farm waste and technologies to transform them into methane and other economically valuable products. Specifically, synthetic biology promises to boost the productivity and sustainability of primary industries, thereby bolstering the industry's prosperity in the face of global difficulties. The SB technology introduces creatures, processes, and products that a decade ago were deemed impossible. Some research institutes and businesses maximize microorganisms' synthetic metabolic pathways, biofuel generation, enzyme manufacturing, and development of modified microbes. Engineered cyanobacterial organisms and eukaryotic algae could be utilized to produce biofuels and other valuable commercial substances.

Environmental applications

Biosensing technologies transforming environmental cues into specific cellular events are among SB's contributions to environmental conservation. Other research initiatives have focused on designing microorganisms to remove some of the most dangerous environmental toxins. Natural biodegradation routes could be used to remediate heavy metals and pesticides. Engineering several interconnected microbial communities sparked an interest in remediation and other forms of environmental protection. To examine their potential in health, environment, industry, and evolution, synthetically constructed microbial groupings have been created. A synthetic ecosystem comprised of mammalian and bacterial cells could facilitate the study of and imitate basic co-evolutionary processes in nature. These include symbiosis, parasitism, and predator-prey relationships.