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Synthetic Biology

Synthetic Biology

Synthetic biology is an interdisciplinary science that involves using principles from disciplines such as engineering, molecular biology, cell biology, and systems biology. It involves remodeling existing organisms from nature or constructing completely new synthetic organisms for applications such as protein or enzyme production, bioremediation, value-added macromolecule production, and the addition of desirable traits to crops, to name a few.
Golden rice
Golden rice is a genetically modified...

Protein Networks

Protein Networks

An organism can have thousands of different proteins, and these proteins must cooperate to ensure the health of an organism. Proteins bind to other proteins and form complexes to carry out their functions. Many proteins interact with multiple other proteins creating a complex network of protein interactions.
These interactions can be represented through maps depicting protein-protein interaction networks, represented as nodes and edges. Nodes are circles that are representative of a protein,...

Protein Networks

Protein Networks

An organism can have thousands of different proteins, and these proteins must cooperate to ensure the health of an organism. Proteins bind to other proteins and form complexes to carry out their functions. Many proteins interact with multiple other proteins creating a complex network of protein interactions.
These interactions can be represented through maps depicting protein-protein interaction networks, represented as nodes and edges. Nodes are circles that are representative of a protein,...

Biosynthesis in Bacteria

Biosynthesis in Bacteria

Biosynthesis in bacteria is a fundamental anabolic process that generates essential macromolecules, including proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and polysaccharides. These macromolecules are critical for cellular growth, replication, and function. The process is tightly regulated and energetically linked to catabolic pathways to ensure optimal resource utilization.Biosynthetic pathways begin with precursor metabolites such as pyruvate, acetyl-CoA, and glucose-6-phosphate derived from glycolysis,...

Microbial Biosensors

Microbial Biosensors

Microbial biosensors are analytical devices that utilize living microbes to detect specific substances through measurable signals. These devices consist of two main components: biosensing organisms and signal-transducing elements. Biosensing organisms, such as Escherichia coli or Saccharomyces cerevisiae, are typically housed in multiwell plates connected to transducers, enabling rapid, real-time detection of target analytes.Signal Generation MechanismWhen a target analyte—such as...

The Central Dogma

The Central Dogma

The central dogma explains the flow of genetic information from DNA nucleotides to the amino acid sequence of proteins.
RNA is the Missing Link Between DNA and Proteins
In the early 1900s, scientists discovered that DNA stores all the information needed for cellular functions and that proteins perform most of these functions. However, the mechanisms of converting genetic information into functional proteins remained unknown for many years. Initially, it was believed that a single gene is...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 8, 2026

A Multilayer Microfluidic Platform for the Conduction of Prolonged Cell-Free Gene Expression

A Multilayer Microfluidic Platform for the Conduction of Prolonged Cell-Free Gene Expression

Published on: October 6, 2019

Synthetic biological networks.

Eric Archer¹, Gürol M Süel

¹Green Center for Systems Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.

Reports on Progress in Physics. Physical Society (Great Britain)

|September 6, 2013

Summary

Synthetic biology enables testing design principles in biological networks. This approach, focusing on engineered gene networks, may reveal connections between biology and physics laws.

Area of Science:

Systems biology
Synthetic biology
Biophysics

Background:

Biology currently lacks the fundamental laws common in physics.
Understanding biological network design principles is a key challenge.
Synthetic biology offers a novel approach to address this gap.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore how synthetic biology can test hypotheses about biological network design.
To review the engineering of synthetic gene regulatory networks for specific functions.
To discuss the potential for synthetic biology to uncover biological principles analogous to those in physics.

Main Methods:

Review of synthetic gene regulatory network research.
Analysis of engineered biological systems for functional and dynamic behaviors.

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Automated Robotic Liquid Handling Assembly of Modular DNA Devices

Automated Robotic Liquid Handling Assembly of Modular DNA Devices

Published on: December 1, 2017

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Last Updated: May 8, 2026

A Multilayer Microfluidic Platform for the Conduction of Prolonged Cell-Free Gene Expression

A Multilayer Microfluidic Platform for the Conduction of Prolonged Cell-Free Gene Expression

Published on: October 6, 2019

Automated Robotic Liquid Handling Assembly of Modular DNA Devices

Automated Robotic Liquid Handling Assembly of Modular DNA Devices

Published on: December 1, 2017

Conceptual framework connecting synthetic biology advancements to biophysics.

Main Results:

Synthetic biology provides a platform for empirical testing of biological design principles.
Engineered gene networks demonstrate predictable behaviors and functions.
The development of synthetic biological systems facilitates comparison with physical laws.

Conclusions:

Synthetic biology is a powerful tool for uncovering fundamental principles governing biological systems.
This field has the potential to bridge the gap between biology and physics.
Further research in synthetic gene networks will illuminate the relationship between biological and physical laws.