Synthetic Biology | Annex
88
• Repurposing and redesign of biological systems for novel
purposes or applications
• Design and synthesise novel functions
• Modelling, simulation, and comparison to experiment
• Quantitative models describing molecular interactions able to predict of
the behaviour of the systems
• Understand or modify existing biological systems and create new
biological systems
• Design and assembly of predictable and robust biological parts/systems and systems biology, which aims
at system-level understanding of biological systems
Self-replication
• Development of biological components and systems that can be combined to produce a pre-
programmed outcome in a biological system, and to build a complete, self-replicating biological
system
Minimal genome
• Smallest autonomous self-replicating entity
• Minimal genome, constraints
• Minimal sets of essential genes are strongly context-dependent, conservation of genes
• Semicontained use, e.g.
algal culture
• Minimise the genome of natural bacteria
• Minimal set of essential genes
• Program: conceptual extension of the genetic program, chassis: conceptual
extension of the living cell
• Minimalise approach to designing biochemical systems from simple, predictable, powerful modules
• Design and fabrication of artificial minimal “modules” that enable bottom-up development of biological
complexity
• Research in minimal cells
• Basic parts are assembled to form biological devices that can be further integrated into complex systems
• Minimal “chassis” organism would be created to provide a blank canvas
upon which to build
• Build biological systems based solely on the essential parts that constitute a living system
Self-replication
• Spontaneous chemical self-assembly process, ability to reproduce is an essential feature of the living
system
Synthetic Genomics | Annex
90
The probably least contested definition is that found at the SB community webpage
(http://syntheticbiology.org/): Synthetic Biology is: A) the design and construction of new biological parts,
devices,
and systems, and; B) the re-design of existing, natural biological systems for useful purposes.
Wang et al. (2010)
Beginning from the first outline drawn by Szybalksi and Skalka in 1978, synthetic biology has undergone a
history from the initial chemical synthesis, to enzyme and PCR-based constructions (Kodumal et al., 2004), as
well as the recent systematic fabrication relying on the conception of parts, devices and systems (Ellis et al.,
2009; Peccoud et al., 2008). While not being confined to the creation of unnatural molecules, synthetic
biology
also concentrates on reconstituting the functions of a cell or entire colony.
Weber and Fussenegger (2010)
Synthetic biology, which aims to design and construct complex biologic systems, is a field that is growing
exponentially.
Zhang et al. (2010)
Now, as described by Synthetic Biology Community (http://syntheticbiology.org/), synthetic biology is the
design and construction of new biological parts, devices and systems, and the re-design of existing, natural
biological systems for useful purposes. This is the simplest and perhaps the most widely accepted definition.
Alterovitz et al. (2010)
The field of synthetic biology holds an inspiring vision for the future; it integrates computational analysis,
biological data and the systems engineering paradigm in the design of new biological machines and systems.
Aubel and Fussenegger (2010)
Synthetic biology, the science of designing biological assemblies with novel functions in a rational and
systematic manner, is a promising new field with great potential for novel therapeutic strategies.(1,2,3,4
Bashor et al. (2010)
The application of engineering principles toward the construction of novel biological systems — a discipline
that has become known as synthetic biology — has received a great deal of attention in recent years based on
its potential to deliver a wide array of technological benefits….In practice, synthetic biology consists of co-
opting molecular “parts” from natural systems and using them to construct new networks that fulfill specific
design goals.
Fritz et al. (2010)
Synthetic biology is a nascent technical discipline that seeks to enable the design and construction of novel
biological systems to meet pressing societal needs. … In recognition of such challenges, the central goal of
synthetic biology is to transform biology into a system that can be engineered just as we engineer bridges and
mechanical systems today (reviewed in [3–8]).
Ghim et al. (2010)
Synthetic biology is an emerging field with the aim of designing and constructing complex artificial biological
systems using standard biological parts in a fashion similar to that of an engineer designing an electronic or
mechanical system.