Synthetic biology
Synthetic biology is a multidisciplinary field that focuses on the artificial creation and manipulation of biological systems, integrating concepts from both biology and engineering. Its applications are diverse, ranging from enhancing agricultural productivity through genetically optimized crops to producing biofuels and medications, such as artemisinin for malaria treatment. The field has evolved significantly since its inception, marked by key historical milestones like the Human Genome Project and the development of polymerase chain reactions (PCR), which revolutionized genetic research.
In recent years, synthetic biology has gained momentum with the design of complex genetic circuits and organisms, including engineered bacteria that can detect health issues in humans. While the potential benefits are substantial, the field also grapples with ethical concerns regarding genetic manipulation, ownership of biological inventions, and the ecological impact of releasing engineered organisms into natural environments. As synthetic biology continues to advance, the balance between innovation and ethical responsibility remains a critical focus for scientists and stakeholders alike.
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Synthetic biology
Synthetic biology is the artificial creation of biological systems. It combines the studies of biology and engineering. The field has many purposes and offers many. The ability to create functioning biological systems can help scientists study them in controlled environments or situations that may not otherwise be easily observed. Understanding of biological systems helps engineering as well, since those systems can provide templates that apply to technology.
Synthetic biology also shows potential as a source of fuel and resources. The ability to artificially produce organisms could allow farmers to grow crops that are genetically the most fit for the environment and capable of producing the most food. Scientists have experimented with using genetic material to store information. Synthetic biology has also gained the interest of the medical industry: Scientists have used synthetic biology to produce medication for diseases such as malaria, as well as bacteria that can help identify or outright attack certain dangerous cells.
Brief History
Scientists mark the beginnings of modern synthetic biology with the work of Francois Jacob and Jacques Monod. In 1961, they published their findings on the workings of the bacteria E. coli. They theorized that the structure could be replicated, but they lacked the technology to do so. Over the next few decades, the field progressed slowly. Scientists developed the ability to clone at a molecular level. Kary Mullis's 1983 discovery of polymerase chain reactions (PCR) was a significant breakthrough. PCR allows scientists to create many copies of certain sequences of DNA much more efficiently than with any previously known methods. This proved to be useful for genetic analysis and experimentation.
The Human Genome Project, a global effort to map the genetics unique to humanity, began in 1990 and was completed in 2003. The knowledge of genetics gained during this project had an impact on the entire field. Scientists developed automated gene sequencing, which made working with genetics vastly more efficient.
The decade also saw the rise of DNA computing. Because of DNA's ability to store and transfer information, many scientists believed that it could prove useful in computing. DNA was found to have a significant advantage over traditional computers when it came to carrying out multiple calculations simultaneously. However, its processing speed was much slower than traditional computers of the 1990s.
With the turn of the twenty-first century came sudden, dramatic growth in the field. The similarity between the way organisms use genetic circuits and the function of electric circuits became a point of study. Most experiments involved E. coli. Its structure was well known to scientists by that point, and its genetics could be manipulated with relative ease. In 2000, scientists created cells that possess genetic switches, which display different reactions based on environmental stimuli. Within the next few years, scientists continued to develop genetic circuitry, learning more about how different functions are communicated to cells.
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In 2004, MIT hosted SB1.0, the first international conference for synthetic biology. MIT also hosted the first iGEM—International Genetically Engineered Machine—competition. These events greatly increased academic interest in the field.
As synthetic biology grew, scientists became more adept at basing synthetic systems on both RNA and DNA, and could create models capable of more complex functions. In 2013, a team lead by Jay Keasling used synthetic biology to develop the drug artemisinin, which proved successful in fighting malaria. Scientists also developed strains of E. coli designed to identify and attack more dangerous microbes that may be present in humans, such as certain types of cancer cells.
A long-term goal of the field is to artificially produce a complete organism. In the early twenty-first century, synthetic biologists made significant progress working with yeast. In 2014, scientists artificially created one yeast chromosome for the first time. Building on this success, a team used computer programs to recreate five of yeast's sixteen chromosomes in 2017. Scientists hope the project will lead to revolutionary developments for food, medicine, and industry. If scientists can replicate a complete yeast, they can control the genetic traits it exhibits. Doing this with other organisms can allow scientists to produce more nutritious foods and more effective medicine.
In early 2017, synthetic biologists created bacteria common to mice that produced a specific reaction if the mice were experiencing inflammation in their digestive tracts. At the time, the researchers required an in-depth process to interpret that reaction, but their goal was to produce bacteria that could detect health problems in humans.
While the field has grown more advanced and efficient, it still faces challenges. The complexity of the subject demands a lot of time and effort before researchers see results. Working with genes also involves degrees of unpredictability.
Synthetic biology has led to several controversies and ethical dilemmas. Concerns about tampering with human genetics and whether it should be allowed have been raised. The issue of rights and ownership of discoveries has been prevalent. As the creation of new organisms grew more likely, the question of whether a person or laboratory could own or patent a living being arose.
Another major concern raised was how information should be distributed and regulated. Many scientists advocated for information and discoveries to be open access, meaning they would be freely available to fellow scientists and the public. Since synthetic biology is a field that is constantly striving to perform unprecedented procedures, sharing information and pooling resources would help the field advance more quickly. On the other hand, some scientists and companies argue that scientists should retain ownership of their discoveries. They point out that they need to earn a living, and that their data and discoveries are assets that help them succeed in a competitive field. Scientists are also concerned about the impact studies will have on the known ecosystem. Some conservationists note that artificially created organisms or mutations could enter the wild population and disrupt natural balance.
Bibliography
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