Synthetic Biology Explained

Advances in understanding genes and cells, along with Artificial Intelligence, enable engineering of cells and organisms on a genome-wide scale with desired properties. Synthetic biology is relevant now because it involves redesigning organisms for useful purposes by engineering them to have new abilities.

Synthetic Biology:

Dimension	Key Details
Meaning	Provides for redesigning organisms for useful purposes by engineering them to have new abilities.
Enabling factors	Comprises advances in understanding genes and cells, and advances in AI, that enable engineering cells and organisms on a genome-wide scale with desired properties.
Examples mentioned	Comprises uses such as harnessing microorganisms for bioremediation to clean pollutants, and modifying rice to produce beta-carotene for preventing Vitamin A deficiency.
Comparison with genome editing	In synthetic biology, scientists typically stitch together long stretches of DNA, already found in an organism or entirely novel, and insert them into an organism's genome; in genome editing, scientists typically use tools to make smaller changes by deleting or adding small stretches of DNA to an organism's own DNA.
Affordability concern	Regulates affordability concerns where personalised therapies could be particularly expensive.
Biosafety concern	Regulates biosafety concerns regarding potential unintended risks of releasing genetically engineered microorganisms into the environment.
Biosecurity risk	Comprises risks of empowering nefarious actors to develop bioweapons, including by accelerating development of toxins.
Cyberbiosecurity concern	Regulates cyberbiosecurity concerns due to growing interaction between biology and automation.
Ethical challenges	Comprises issues regarding engineering life, equity, and distribution of risk, benefits, and access.