Synthetic biology and application areas

Abstract

Synthetic biology is an emerging discipline closely related to systems biology. Synthetic biology consists of the process of designing and creating systems and organisms in the field of biology that work together with engineering principles. The primary goal of synthetic biology is to build advanced biological systems capable of producing products that are beneficial to us today. To achieve this, synthetic biology utilizes genetic engineering and bioengineering to create new organisms, genetic modifications, and biological functions. In line with this objective, it designs bioparts or biocomponents to generate advantageous biofeatures. By leveraging applications such as DNA synthesis and design to alter or reorganize genetic material, synthetic biology aims to make biological systems more efficient and sustainable through innovations in science and engineering. However, it is a highly complex field, and its practical applications have only become possible in the past 20 years. During this time, significant preliminary work and mathematical modeling, along with technological advances in DNA sequencing and synthesis, have been necessary to understand the functioning of cells and biological systems. In recent years, progress has been made in the field of synthetic biology by establishing standard biological building blocks and developing various genomic/metabolic engineering tools. In this review, it is examined how synthetic biology will contribute to human health with its applications in medical fields such as cancer, tissue engineering, drug delivery systems, biosensors, therapeutic treatment, and what future it will offer us with its developments in industry and agriculture.

Topics & Concepts