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Using Synthetic Biology to Engineer Living Cells That Interface with Programmable Materials
Published on: March 9, 2017
Synthetic biology and metabolic engineering
1Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Building 56 Room 469C, 77 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. gregstep@mit.edu
ACS Synthetic Biology
|May 10, 2013
Summary
Metabolic engineering focuses on modifying microbial pathways for product synthesis. Synthetic biology utilizes synthetic DNA and genetic circuits for fundamental research, with partial overlap in pathway engineering.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Synthetic Biology
- Metabolic Engineering
Background:
- Metabolic engineering, established 20 years ago, directs modification of metabolic pathways for microbial synthesis.
- Synthetic biology leverages synthetic DNA for engineering biological systems, including pathway engineering.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the origins of metabolic engineering and synthetic biology.
- To propose distinct paradigms for each field: unit operations for metabolic engineering and electronic circuits for synthetic biology.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of the historical development and core principles of metabolic engineering and synthetic biology.
- Identification of overlapping and distinct research areas and applications.
Main Results:
- Metabolic engineering is characterized by a 'unit operations' paradigm, focusing on engineering 'cell factories' for bio-manufacturing.
- Synthetic biology is characterized by an 'electronic circuits' paradigm, primarily focused on fundamental biological research using synthetic DNA and genetic circuits.
Conclusions:
- While both fields involve pathway engineering, they possess distinct intellectual foundations and primary applications.
- Metabolic engineering is geared towards industrial bio-production, whereas synthetic biology advances basic biological understanding.
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