Synthetic Biology: Taking Biotech To The Next Level
Transforming treatments to synthesizing life.
Forty years. For forty years, modern biotechnology has been the forefront and face of medical innovation. Scientists, researchers, entrepreneurs successfully developed new cures and therapies, completely remodifying humanity’s approach to medicine, and transforming treatments to devastating diseases. For example, a once incurable disease, Hepatitis C, now has recovery rates above 90%. HIV/AIDS has progressed from a guaranteed death sentence to a chronic yet, manageable condition. More than 730 thousand children have been saved in the last 20 years due to advances in vaccinations, in the United States alone.
All these implications were made possible, thanks to biotechnology. However, the world of biotech is not restricted within the walls of medicine. Evidentally biotechnology refers to the scale of technology as a whole.
“The utilization of biological processes, organisms or systems to produce products that are anticipated to improve human lives is termed biotechnology. Broadly, this can be defined as the engineering of organisms for the purpose of human usage” — Saurabh Bhatia, author of History, Scope and Development of Biotechnology
Advancements in the Biotech field:
Due to the wide range of applications in the biotech field, colours have been used to differentiate the main areas of research. Here are some applications in the biotech field:
- Blue biotechnology (Marine Biotech) Alternative Energy Source — Bio-fuel, is a liquid fuel produced from renewable sources, including microalgae. Algal biomass can be developed in bioreactors (a manufactured device that supports a biologically active environment). Ocean growth could be appropriate feedstocks for bio-refineries — a facility that integrates biomass conversion processes and to produce value such as fuels and power.
- Green biotechnology (Agriculture Biotech) Fertilizers— Biofertilizers are microorganisms that work to enhance nutrients in plants. Biofertilizers are also used as microbial inoculants to improve the states of the dirt.
Recent advancements in biotechnology are helping citizens prepare, and address society’s most important challenges.
New Evolution of Biotech: Synthetic Biology
According to the Collins dictionary, “A limit is the greatest amount, extent, or degree of something that is possible.” Do limits exist for humans? Does humanity face any barrier, that cannot be solved with extensive research and discipline? Consequently, is it possible for humanity to one step further? Yes, it is, it is possible for humanity to go one step further, actually, the step has already been taken — through reengineering life.
“Synthetic biology can help address key challenges facing the planet and its population. Research in synthetic biology may lead to new things such as programmed cells that self-assemble at the sites of disease to repair damage.” — Craig Venter, Founder of the Institute for Genomic Research
What’s the Difference Between Gene Editing and Synthetic Biology?
Synthetic biology and genome editing are similar to another as they both involve changing an organism’s genetic code. Genetic editing usually involves the transfer of individual genes from one microbe or cell to another. It is the modification of the organisms’ characteristics by manipulating its genetic material.
Whereas synthetic biology, on the other hand, attempts to bring engineering principles into biology. Synthetic biology focuses on the design of the main components like enzymes, genetic circuits, metabolic pathways, of the genetic material. The assembly of the smaller components creates a larger integrated system which then can be understood and modelled to solve specific problems.
“The potential for synthetic biology and biotechnology is vast; we all have an opportunity to create the future together” — Ryan Bethencourt, Co-founder of Wild Earth
Application and Challenges
Current synthetic biology goals are ambitious — they range from tissue engineering, biofuel and recoding genomic organisms. However, along the pathway of innovation lies many obstacles. One of the main challenges in the field is that many parts of a mammalian gene are undefined. Parts have not been characterized well, meaning that they haven’t been tested to show what they do as their performance can change with different cell types. Adding on, to actually make synthetic biology breakthroughs, a diverse mix of multi-disciplinary teams of biologists, engineers, mathematicians, philosophers, computer experts, are needed.
All in all, synthetic biology is an emerging disruptive technology that is capable of delivering new solutions to world problems, however, it is still in the works of delivering its promise.
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