Curated Papers > Highly Cited Authoritative Literature on "Synthetic Biology"

A brief history of synthetic biology.

Literature Information

DOI	10.1038/nrmicro3239
PMID	24686414
Journal	Nature reviews. Microbiology
Impact Factor	103.3
JCR Quartile	Q1
Publication Year	2014
Times Cited	274
Keywords	Synthetic Biology, Microbial Engineering, Genomics, Systems Biology, Biotechnology
Literature Type	Historical Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review, Journal Article
ISSN	1740-1526
Pages	381-90
Issue	12(5)
Authors	D Ewen Cameron, Caleb J Bashor, James J Collins

TL;DR

This article outlines the evolution of synthetic biology from its origins over fifty years ago to its current status as a transformative field in biotechnology and medicine, driven by advancements in genomics and systems biology. It highlights key breakthroughs and anticipates future challenges, emphasizing the importance of rationally engineering microorganisms to control and program cellular behavior.

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Synthetic Biology · Microbial Engineering · Genomics · Systems Biology · Biotechnology

Abstract

The ability to rationally engineer microorganisms has been a long-envisioned goal dating back more than a half-century. With the genomics revolution and rise of systems biology in the 1990s came the development of a rigorous engineering discipline to create, control and programme cellular behaviour. The resulting field, known as synthetic biology, has undergone dramatic growth throughout the past decade and is poised to transform biotechnology and medicine. This Timeline article charts the technological and cultural lifetime of synthetic biology, with an emphasis on key breakthroughs and future challenges.

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Primary Questions Addressed

1. What are some of the key breakthroughs in synthetic biology over the past decade?
2. How has the integration of systems biology influenced the development of synthetic biology?
3. What are the current challenges facing the field of synthetic biology in terms of ethical considerations?
4. In what ways could synthetic biology transform traditional approaches in biotechnology and medicine?
5. How do advancements in genomics contribute to the future prospects of synthetic biology?

Key Findings

Key Insights

1. Research Background and Purpose
   The field of synthetic biology seeks to realize the long-standing ambition of rationally engineering microorganisms, a vision that has been pursued for over fifty years. The emergence of genomics and systems biology in the 1990s provided the foundational knowledge and tools necessary to formalize this ambition into a rigorous engineering discipline. The primary objective of the research encapsulated in the article is to trace the evolution of synthetic biology, highlighting pivotal breakthroughs and addressing the challenges that lie ahead for the field.

2. Main Methods and Findings
   The article employs a timeline format to outline the technological advancements and cultural shifts that have characterized the growth of synthetic biology. Key breakthroughs include the development of genome editing technologies, such as CRISPR-Cas9, which have enabled precise modifications of DNA in various organisms. The integration of bioinformatics and computational modeling has also enhanced our understanding of cellular systems, allowing for more effective design and programming of cellular behavior. Findings suggest that synthetic biology has transitioned from a theoretical concept to a practical discipline capable of producing engineered organisms for diverse applications in biotechnology and medicine.

3. Core Conclusions
   Synthetic biology is positioned at the intersection of engineering, biology, and technology, which allows for innovative solutions to complex biological problems. The article concludes that while significant strides have been made, the field still faces formidable challenges, including ethical considerations, regulatory hurdles, and technical limitations. However, the potential for synthetic biology to revolutionize industries such as pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and environmental management underscores its importance as a transformative scientific discipline.

4. Research Significance and Impact
   The significance of this research lies in its comprehensive overview of synthetic biology’s evolution and its implications for future scientific endeavors. By charting a historical context, the article underscores the necessity for ongoing research and development in synthetic biology to harness its full potential. The impact of synthetic biology extends beyond scientific inquiry; it has the potential to drive economic growth, enhance food security, and address pressing global issues such as climate change and disease. As the field continues to evolve, its integration into mainstream biotechnology and medicine could lead to groundbreaking innovations that improve quality of life and sustain ecological balance.

References

1. The second wave of synthetic biology: from modules to systems. - Priscilla E M Purnick;Ron Weiss - Nature reviews. Molecular cell biology (2009)
2. Model-driven engineering of RNA devices to quantitatively program gene expression. - James M Carothers;Jonathan A Goler;Darmawi Juminaga;Jay D Keasling - Science (New York, N.Y.) (2011)
3. A synthetic multicellular system for programmed pattern formation. - Subhayu Basu;Yoram Gerchman;Cynthia H Collins;Frances H Arnold;Ron Weiss - Nature (2005)
4. A sensing array of radically coupled genetic 'biopixels'. - Arthur Prindle;Phillip Samayoa;Ivan Razinkov;Tal Danino;Lev S Tsimring;Jeff Hasty - Nature (2011)
5. Creation of a bacterial cell controlled by a chemically synthesized genome. - Daniel G Gibson;John I Glass;Carole Lartigue;Vladimir N Noskov;Ray-Yuan Chuang;Mikkel A Algire;Gwynedd A Benders;Michael G Montague;Li Ma;Monzia M Moodie;Chuck Merryman;Sanjay Vashee;Radha Krishnakumar;Nacyra Assad-Garcia;Cynthia Andrews-Pfannkoch;Evgeniya A Denisova;Lei Young;Zhi-Qing Qi;Thomas H Segall-Shapiro;Christopher H Calvey;Prashanth P Parmar;Clyde A Hutchison;Hamilton O Smith;J Craig Venter - Science (New York, N.Y.) (2010)
6. Protein molecules as computational elements in living cells. - D Bray - Nature (1995)
7. Engineered riboregulators enable post-transcriptional control of gene expression. - Farren J Isaacs;Daniel J Dwyer;Chunming Ding;Dmitri D Pervouchine;Charles R Cantor;James J Collins - Nature biotechnology (2004)
8. Synthetic biology moving into the clinic. - Warren C Ruder;Ting Lu;James J Collins - Science (New York, N.Y.) (2011)
9. Standard biological parts knowledgebase. - Michal Galdzicki;Cesar Rodriguez;Deepak Chandran;Herbert M Sauro;John H Gennari - PloS one (2011)
10. Higher-order cellular information processing with synthetic RNA devices. - Maung Nyan Win;Christina D Smolke - Science (New York, N.Y.) (2008)

Literatures Citing This Work

1. Advances and computational tools towards predictable design in biological engineering. - Lorenzo Pasotti;Susanna Zucca - Computational and mathematical methods in medicine (2014)
2. Exopolysaccharides produced by marine bacteria and their applications as glycosaminoglycan-like molecules. - Christine Delbarre-Ladrat;Corinne Sinquin;Lou Lebellenger;Agata Zykwinska;Sylvia Colliec-Jouault - Frontiers in chemistry (2014)
3. Evolution of acyl-substrate recognition by a family of acyl-homoserine lactone synthases. - Quin H Christensen;Ryan M Brecht;Dastagiri Dudekula;E Peter Greenberg;Rajesh Nagarajan - PloS one (2014)
4. Tunable protein degradation in bacteria. - D Ewen Cameron;James J Collins - Nature biotechnology (2014)
5. In vivo evolution of metabolic pathways: Assembling old parts to build novel and functional structures. - Alejandro Luque;Sarra C Sebai;Vincent Sauveplane;Odile Ramaen;Rudy Pandjaitan - Bioengineered (2014)
6. Synthetic Biology: A Bridge between Artificial and Natural Cells. - Yunfeng Ding;Fan Wu;Cheemeng Tan - Life (Basel, Switzerland) (2014)
7. Establishing Chlamydomonas reinhardtii as an industrial biotechnology host. - Mark A Scaife;Ginnie T D T Nguyen;Juan Rico;Devinn Lambert;Katherine E Helliwell;Alison G Smith - The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology (2015)
8. Engineering Sugar Utilization and Microbial Tolerance toward Lignocellulose Conversion. - Lizbeth M Nieves;Larry A Panyon;Xuan Wang - Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology (2015)
9. Mammalian synthetic biology: emerging medical applications. - Zoltán Kis;Hugo Sant'Ana Pereira;Takayuki Homma;Ryan M Pedrigi;Rob Krams - Journal of the Royal Society, Interface (2015)
10. Cosmetics-triggered percutaneous remote control of transgene expression in mice. - Hui Wang;Haifeng Ye;Mingqi Xie;Marie Daoud El-Baba;Martin Fussenegger - Nucleic acids research (2015)

... (264 more literatures)

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