Biotechnology
Biotechnology is the process of genetic manipulation of micro-organisms and biological
substances (such as enzymes) to perform specific manufacturing processes. These include
production of drugs, synthetic hormones, foods, or the conversion of organic waste.
Medical biotechnology has the potential to produce breakthrough drugs, but will have
to converge with big pharma if it is to gain needed funding. Agricultural biotechnology has been
hindered bycontroversies over genetic modification, but its use is spreading. Meanwhile, nonfood genetic modification is set for more mundane triumphs that could help industry. But truly
cost-effective industrial biotechnology is probably still some way off.
Synthetic biology goes further and assembles genes from different organisms to create new
biological functions—the creation of artificial life is a looming possibility. Meanwhile, molecular
biology is undergoing its biggest shake-up in 50 years, as a hitherto little-regarded chemical
called RNA acquires significance as a regulator of genes.
History of the term
The term "synthetic biology" has a history spanning the twentieth century. In 1974, the Polish
geneticist Waclaw Szybalski introduced the term "synthetic biology", writing:
Let me now comment on the question "what next". Up to now we are working on the
descriptive phase of molecular biology. ... But the real challenge will start when we
enter the synthetic biology phase of research in our field. We will then devise new
control elements and add these new modules to the existing genomes or build up
wholly new genomes. This would be a field with the unlimited expansion potential and
hardly any limitations to building "new better control circuits" and ..... finally other
"synthetic" organisms, like a "new better mouse". ... I am not concerned that we will run
out of exciting and novel ideas, ... in the synthetic biology, in general.
When in 1978 the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Arber, Nathans and
Smith for the discovery of restriction enzymes, Waclaw Szybalski wrote in an editorial comment
in the journal Gene:
The work on restriction nucleases not only permits us easily to construct recombinant
DNA molecules and to analyze individual genes, but also has led us into the new era of
synthetic biology where not only existing genes are described and analyzed but also new
gene arrangements can be constructed and evaluated.
Synthetic Biology - what the hack is that?
Synthetic biology is a new area of biological research that
combines science and engineering. Synthetic biology
encompasses a variety of different approaches,
methodologies and disciplines, with the aim to design and
construction of new biological functions and systems not
found in nature. Synthetic biology is based on genetic
engineering but goes much further. In genetic engineering
the goal was to manipulate an organism’s genes, usually
by transferring one gene from a donor to host organisms.
Synthetic biology, on the other hand, aims at creating
whole new biological functions, systems and eventually
organisms.
Synthetic biology means:
Engineering DNA-based biological circuits, including
standard biological parts:
Instead of just transferring one gene, a whole system is
built in organisms (e.g. an oscillator, an on-off switch, a
more complicated multi-step chemical synthesis of a
useful biomolecule, biocomputer).
Defining a minimal genome/minimal life (top-down):
Taking a bacteria that already has a very small genome (i.e. number of base pairs) and reduces
it even further until the organisms cannot survive any longer. That way we can define and
understand the smallest possible genome that still sustains life. This minimal life will also
forma „chassis“for hosting the biocircuits described above.
Constructing synthetic cells or protocells from scratch or bottom-up:
In an attempt to prove Pasteur’s "law of biogenesis" (Omne vivum ex vivo, Latin for, "all life [is]
from life") incomplete, scientists are now trying to produce synthetic cellular life form from
simple chemical ingredients.
Creating orthogonal biological systems based on a biochemistry not found in nature:
All forms of life on earth use the famous DNA molecule. Now scientists are constructing
different molecules with similar functions (e.g. the XNA, Xenonucleicacid) to construct living
systems that have never existed before, as a way to avoid interference with naturally evolved
DNA while doing biotechnology.
The chemical synthesis of DNA, the chemical production of genetic code
So far DNA could only be created by life itself, but now special DNA synthesis machines can
actually “print” DNA the way we want it. Scientist can e.g. download the genetic code of a virus
(and eventually bacteria) and construct its DNA with this machine.
Synthetic Biology is NOT about cloning; stem cells per se; only reading DNA; random
mutation through radiation or chemicals, old school genetic engineering (e.g. Monsanto GM
crops)!