Embedment of Engineering Principle in Biology: Synthetic Biology

Synthetic biology is a new interdisciplinary field involving the implementation of the principles of engineering in biology. The aim is to redesign and manufacture biological components and systems that do not exist in the natural world already. Synthetic biologists engaged in extreme genetic engineering to build designer organisms that carry out specific tasks, such as the production of biofuels or other high-value compounds.

Synthetic biology is in its early stages and has entered the commercial market recently. Many technologies, using synthetic biology are still to be marketed and await approvals from the respective regional government authorities. Synthetic biology analyzes how artificial biological systems can be constructed using many similar tools and experimental techniques. The focus is often on the characterization and simplification of parts of natural biological systems and its use as modules of an engineered biological system.

Europe has invested in the development of a synthesis of systems based on biological principles. Europe is occupying the world's largest share in the Synthetic Biology market and will retain its position throughout till 2025. Asia-Pacific, however, is the fastest growing market with a CAGR of 40% between 2014 and 2020. In North America, defense has been an important contributor to the investments made in the recent years. The global synthetic biology market size is estimated is reach $5–$6 billion in 2018 and witness a CAGR of 32%–33% during the forecast period 2019–2026.

Synthetic biology offers high productivity in the re-engineering and design of artificial bimolecular components and biomaterials, mainly used in various biological, industrial, and environmental applications, such as gene technology, drug discovery & therapeutics, novel protein synthesis, artificial tissue regeneration, biofuels, industrial enzymes, bioremediation, and green chemicals.

Scientists can design and synthesize modified bacterial chromosomes that can be used in the manufacture of advanced biofuels, bio-products, renewable chemicals, and bio-based specialty chemicals such as pharmaceutical intermediates, fine chemicals, and food ingredients in the healthcare sector. The market for synthetic biology is a technology that is now in massive demand in the biotechnology, chemical, and biofuel industries, and its products will soon outstrip other industries' products.

New medicines are now being produced using synthetic biology at a cellular, molecular, and genetic level to address the emerging health problems.

Synthetic biology combines the chemical synthesis of DNA with the knowledge of genomics to enable scientists to quickly manufacture and assemble cataloged DNA sequences into new genomes.

Synthetic biology is expected to be adopted in a wide range of fields, including chemicals, pharmaceuticals, energy, and agriculture, as a major market for applications.

Synthetic biology reproduces synthetic microbes. If synthetic organisms escape into the environment, biological diversity is threatened. Specifically, these organisms are designed to survive, function, and spread in the natural environment. If they found an ecological niche, wild populations could be displaced, and whole ecosystems could be disrupted. Synthetic organisms could also unintentionally escape through faulty containment systems or by human error from laboratories, bio-refineries, and production vats. Many of these microbes are designed to break down biomass or produce fuel lipids. Their escape may be disastrous. Escape of organisms designed to break down cellulose or directly produce oils may lead to the destruction of all plant materials or they can introduce toxic compounds into the environment.

The challenges in assessing the risks of Synthetic Biology are predictable and include the integration of modified cells into living organisms; the future development of autonomous modified cells; the use of non-standard biochemical systems in the living cells; the speed of changes in new technologies and the evolving biology of "do-it-yourself" among the scientific community of citizens.