Synthetic biology – ushering in a new era of biotechnology
Synthetic biology, like a shining new star in the sky of bioscience in the 21st century, is rapidly reshaping our understanding and control of life.
As a cutting-edge branch of biological science, it integrates the wisdom of biology, engineering, computer science and other disciplines, and is committed to creating biological systems unprecedented in nature through artificial design and construction, thus bringing subversive changes to energy, materials, health, environment and many other fields.
Back in history, the term “synthetic biology” first appeared in the journal Science in 1911, but it was nearly a century later that the academic and Internet world took off in 2000.
In 2004, it was named one of the top ten emerging transformative technologies by Technology Review, and it was highly anticipated.
This discipline was born out of gene recombination technology, and with the vigorous development of molecular systems biology, it has gradually grown into an independent and highly influential emerging discipline.
Its core idea is to cleverly weave “genes” into a network, giving cells “intelligence” and enabling them to accurately perform complex tasks preset by humans.
Imagine a special network embedded in a simple cell that instantly activates the potential for biosensing, as if inspectors were equipped with “fluoroscopic eyes” that could quickly locate landmines or biological weapons.
If human cells are integrated into the network, it is expected to breed a complete organ for transplantation, lighting the light of hope for countless dying patients.
The key reason why synthetic biology has attracted much attention is that it breaks the shackles of traditional biological research.
Different from simply exploring the natural characteristics of organisms, it focuses more on using engineering thinking to transform or even completely shape biological systems to meet the diversified needs of human beings.
This innovative concept makes it steadily occupy a key position in the modern science and technology system and become the “golden key” to open a new era of biotechnology.
Development course: from germination to breakthrough
Looking back on the development of synthetic biology, it is a magnificent epic that brought together the wisdom and courage of countless scientists.
Its origins can be traced back to the mid-20th century, and major discoveries in the field of molecular biology sowed the seeds of hope for it.
In 1953, Watson and Crick unveiled the mystery of the double helix structure of DNA, allowing humans to peek into the storage of genetic information for the first time, and the nature of genes has been clarified since then.
Subsequently, the deciphering of the genetic code, the discovery of restriction enzymes and the invention of PCR technology, like a key, opened the door to gene manipulation and provided fertile soil for the germination of synthetic biology.
In the 1970s, Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen made breakthroughs in the field of genetic engineering.
They successfully achieved in vitro construction of biofunctional bacterial plasmid, completed the gene transfer between different organisms, this pioneering work not only laid the cornerstone of the era of recombinant biotechnology, but also the development of synthetic biology lit the lighthouse of the future.
The wide application of molecular cloning and PCR technology makes gene manipulation more and more convenient, and the design of artificial gene regulation is no longer out of reach.
The wheel of time rolled forward into the 1990s, the emergence of automatic DNA sequencing technology and advanced computational tools, making microbial genome sequencing a reality.
The birth of high-throughput technology has helped scientists to comprehensively analyze cell components and their interactions, and systems biology has emerged at the moment, providing a new idea and method for synthetic biology to construct complex biological systems.
Until the beginning of the 21st century, synthetic biology ushered in its own highlight moment, a series of world-shaking results like a bright star.
In 2000, the Collins team at Boston University designed and synthesized a bistable gene network switch inspired by phage λ switch and cyanobacteria circadian oscillator.
In the same year, Elowitz and Leibler of Princeton University carefully built a gene oscillation network based on the principle of negative feedback regulation.
These two pioneering achievements, like throwing boulders into a calm lake, have stirred up a wave of synthetic biology research, marking that the discipline has officially entered the track of rapid development.
Breakthrough: Rewriting blueprint of life
In the development process of synthetic biology, a series of major breakthroughs, such as bright stars, illuminate the journey of human exploration of the mystery of life, and constantly rewrite the blueprint of life.
In 2014, an elite team of researchers from the United States, Britain, France and other countries successfully synthesized artificial eukaryotic chromosomes and made them function perfectly in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Using chromosome 3, the smallest of saccharomyces cerevisiae, as a model, they took seven years to elaborate using computer simulations.
More than 500 fine modifications were carried out on the chromosomes, nearly 48,000 repeats and “junk DNA” were removed, and labels were cleverly added to distinguish natural and synthetic DNA, and large throughput screening was also used to ensure the optimal effect.
In the end, the successful birth of the artificial chromosome syn III marked a solid and critical step toward synthetic life, and the understanding of gene function and regulation mechanism has achieved a qualitative leap.
In 2017, the “Synthetic Yeast chromosome Project” achieved brilliant results in the stage, and scientific research institutions in China, the United States and the United Kingdom joined hands to successfully synthesize 5 yeast chromosomes by chemical methods, of which Chinese scientists took the lead and successfully completed the synthesis of 4 chromosomes.
This achievement makes China firmly occupy a place in the field of eukaryotic genome design and construction, demonstrating a strong scientific research strength.
Also in 2018, a research team led by the Qin Chongjun Research Group of the Molecular Plant Science Innovation Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences completed a world-shaking initiative – artificially integrating the natural 16 chromosomes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae into a single chromosome with complete function.
After 4 years of hard research and 15 rounds of chromosome fusion, SY14 Saccharomyces cerevisiae was born.
Despite the dramatic changes in chromosome structure, the growth, physiology and reproductive functions of the yeast cells were all normal, subverting traditional cognition.
This not only opens up a new path for the study of human telomere function and cell aging, but also means that human beings break the boundaries of natural life and open the door to create a new life form.
In 2024, among the top ten scientific breakthroughs of the year announced by Science magazine, three achievements in the field of synthetic biology made an amazing appearance.
“The use of immune cells to treat autoimmune diseases (CAR-T therapy)”, as a shining pearl in the field of biopharmaceutical, has evolved since it was first used in the treatment of blood tumors 15 years ago, and is now effective in the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as lupus and scleroderma, bringing new hope to countless patients.
“RNA Insecticide for Field Use”, the US EPA-approved Calantha insecticide spray based on RNA interference mechanism accurately targets pest genes and is environmentally friendly, opening a new chapter in biopesticides;
“The discovery of nitrogen-fixing organelles adds to the turning point of evolution”, the discovery of nitrogen-fixing organelles in eukaryotic algae has triggered a boom in microbial nitrogen fixation research, and scientists are eager to introduce it to crops, achieve the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen to plant-available ammonia, reduce chemical fertilizer dependence, and inject a strong impetus for sustainable agricultural development.
Seventy-two changes in multiple fields
In the field of health care, synthetic biology is a miracle cure.
The magic of synthetic biology lies not only in the major breakthroughs in the laboratory, but also in its ability to cross the boundary to enable “seventy-two changes” in many fields such as medical care, agriculture, and food, to comprehensively improve human life and promote industrial change.
In 2023, Casgevy, the world’s first CRISPR-based therapy for sickle cell anemia, was approved, which accurately edited the genes of patients with hematopoietic stem cells, bringing the cure to patients with this inherited blood disease;
In the same year, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman for their pioneering work on mRNA technology, which enabled mRNA vaccines to shine during the COVID-19 pandemic and save countless lives.
Researchers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine have used synthetic biology to create bacterial vesicles carrying BMP-2 to accurately repair osteoporosis and restore bone health.
Phages and synthetic biology have joined forces to combat antimicrobial resistance, opening new avenues to address this global challenge.
Probiotics guide CAR T cells through solid tumors, which is expected to overcome the bottleneck of cancer treatment.
In agriculture, synthetic biology is the right hand of green agriculture.
RNA biopesicides shine on the stage, such as silicon Yi Technology’s products, with RNA interference to accurately combat pests and diseases, 3-6 months of research and development cycle is far better than traditional pesticides, fast degradation, less residue, promote production, and can also act as a “plant vaccine”.
Scientists also use synthetic biology to develop new microbial pesticides, such as engineered strains of wheat rust and cotton blight, disease-resistant and pollution-free;
Gene editing technology helps to breed new crop varieties with disease resistance, insect resistance, drought tolerance and high yield to ensure food security.
The food field is also an arena for synthetic biology.
Shanghai Changjin Biotechnology Co., Ltd. has developed a new approach to industrial production of milk protein with synthetic biotechnology, and has become the industry leader in just three years, realizing the synthesis of a variety of mammalian milk proteins and high-value products, and occupying the commanding heights in the field of food synthetic biology and microbial protein.
The first Synthetic Biology Technology Food Application Exchange Conference was held to promote the innovation of biological manufacturing and food science and technology.
New food raw materials such as “high-mix fish oil” pseudo-microchlorella oil to D-aloxone sugar have approved at an accelerated pace, behind which synthetic biology is the figure, bringing healthier and diversified choices to consumers.
Industry-university-research linkage: promote progress together
The vigorous development of synthetic biology is inseparable from the vision and strong support of governments, the keen insight and generous injection of capital, and the close collaboration and deep integration between industry, academia and research.
These three forces have converged into a powerful torrent, pushing synthetic biology to sail on the journey of innovation.
Governments around the world have regarded synthetic biology as a strategic high ground and introduced intensive policies to protect it.
The United States took the lead, as early as 2006, the establishment of synthetic biology engineering research center, and since then it has issued relevant research roadmap years, 2021 “American Innovation and Competition Act” listed it as a key technology layout, 2022 “National Biotechnology and biological manufacturing Plan” to spend more than 2 billion US dollars to accelerate innovation. A series of moves underscore its hegemonic ambitions.
Not to outdone, the UK invested £70 million in the “Synthetic Biology for Growth Plan” in 2012 to build research centers and infrastructure, and a further £2 billion in the 2023 “National Engineering Biology Vision” aimed at revolutionizing medicine, food and environmental protection.
The European Union, Germany, France, etc., also show their skills, or set the replacement goal of bio-based products, or release the bioeconomic strategy, from the policy, funding, personnel training and other dimensions to build a solid foundation for synthetic biology.
Capital, like a keen hunter, has sensed the huge potential of synthetic biology and rushed into this blue ocean.
According to incomplete statistics, there are more than 500 companies in the world engaged in the field of synthetic biology, showing a trend of contention.
In China, state-owned assets have become the leading force in large-scale financing in the field of synthetic biology, and half of the financing events of more than 100 million yuan in the first half of 2024 have state-owned assets.
Such as China Merchants, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, State Investment, etc., have come to the next layout to inject capital into the enterprise “living water”.
After enterprise financing, Muen Biology won 300 million yuan C + round financing for product scale and commercialization, and improved the technology platform;
Local governments also actively set up industrial funds, Changzhou 2 billion yuan, Shenzhen Bright Science City 1.5 billion yuan, Beijing 10 million yuan special support, etc., to add to the industrial development.
Industry-university-research cooperation has opened up the “two veins” from the laboratory to the market.
Universities and research institutions have become the “cradle” of innovative achievements by virtue of their profound scientific research heritage.
Academicians of the American Academy of Sciences, researchers of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and other domestic and foreign experts have explored the academic frontier and published many breakthrough achievements. Enterprises give play to the advantages of market acumen and “monetize” scientific research achievements.
Huaxi Biological and other enterprises cooperate with scientific research teams to make synthetic biotechnology take root and launch products in medical beauty, food and other fields.
Various industry-university-research matchmaking meetings and alliances have sprung up, such as Guangzhou Synthetic Biology Industry-University-research Technology Innovation Alliance, Hubei Synthetic Biology Society, etc., bringing together the wisdom of all parties to work together to solve problems in medical, agriculture, food and other fields, and realize the “two-way rush” of scientific research and industry.
Ethics and regulation: Technology’s double-edged sword
Just as every powerful scientific and technological power is accompanied by “growing pains”, the “double-edged sword” of synthetic biology has also caused many ethical controversies.
On the one hand, the boundaries of synthetic life blur the boundaries between the natural and the artificial, making people wonder:
Do humans have the right to play the role of “creator” and create entirely new forms of life?
Will this impact the traditional concept of dignity and value of life?
On the other hand, the application of gene editing and other technologies in medical and agricultural fields, although promising, has also caused worries about “designer babies”, genetic discrimination and the destruction of ecological balance.
In the face of these challenges, countries around the world are stepping up regulatory efforts to strike a balance between innovation and risk.
The United States established a synthetic biology task force in 2004 to assess risks and develop guidelines.
The European Union has followed suit, passing legislation to regulate the use of the technology to ensure biosafety;
China also attaches great importance to strengthening supervision from various aspects such as policy improvement, research and development access, and standard setting.
In the wave of synthetic biology, we not only witness the majestic power of science and technology to rewrite the code of life and empower the future, but also face the issue of ethical scrutiny and regulatory constraints.
Only with prudence and a focus on human well-being can we harness the tide of science and technology for a better tomorrow.
Look to the future: Limitless possibilities lie ahead
Looking to the future, synthetic biology is a rich mine of endless treasures waiting to dug deep.
With the continuous improvement of technology, we have reason to believe that it will open new frontiers in more unknown areas and create miracles beyond imagination.
In the medical field, customized gene therapy expected to become the norm, to overcome the root causes of cancer, genetic diseases and other difficult diseases;
Artificial organ transplantation will be as convenient and precise as replacing parts, greatly extending human life.
In agriculture, through synthetic biology, deserts or extremely cold places can transformed into fertile fields, producing highly nutritious and resilient food crops, and solving the global food crisis.
In the field of energy, artificial photosynthesis systems efficiently convert solar energy, biofuels perfectly replace traditional fossil energy, and the earth returns to a green ecological home.
But in our pursuit of these visions, we must not forget that technological development should always wear a “seat belt”.
The future of synthetic biology requires not only the bold innovation of scientists, but also the ethical review and reasonable supervision of the whole society.
Only in this way, this bright pearl in the field of biotechnology can continue to shine, illuminate the road to a better future for individuals, so that we can enjoy the infinite wonderful life under the blue sky of harmonious coexistence between science and technology and nature.
