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Synthetic biology advances and applications in the biotechnology industry: a perspective

  • Metabolic Engineering and Synthetic Biology - Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology

Abstract

Synthetic biology is a logical extension of what has been called recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology or genetic engineering since the 1970s. As rDNA technology has been the driver for the development of a thriving biotechnology industry today, starting with the commercialization of biosynthetic human insulin in the early 1980s, synthetic biology has the potential to take the industry to new heights in the coming years. Synthetic biology advances have been driven by dramatic cost reductions in DNA sequencing and DNA synthesis; by the development of sophisticated tools for genome editing, such as CRISPR/Cas9; and by advances in informatics, computational tools, and infrastructure to facilitate and scale analysis and design. Synthetic biology approaches have already been applied to the metabolic engineering of microorganisms for the production of industrially important chemicals and for the engineering of human cells to treat medical disorders. It also shows great promise to accelerate the discovery and development of novel secondary metabolites from microorganisms through traditional, engineered, and combinatorial biosynthesis. We anticipate that synthetic biology will continue to have broadening impacts on the biotechnology industry to address ongoing issues of human health, world food supply, renewable energy, and industrial chemicals and enzymes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. QB3 Institute, University of California-Berkeley, 5885 Hollis St., 4th Floor, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA

    Leonard Katz

  2. Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California-Los Angeles, 420 Westwood Plaza, Boelter Hall 5531, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA

    Yvonne Y. Chen

  3. Departments of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Bioengineering, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, TX, 77005, USA

    Ramon Gonzalez

  4. Synthetic Genomics, Inc., 11149 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA

    Todd C. Peterson

  5. Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA

    Huimin Zhao

  6. CognoGen Biotechnology Consulting, 7636 Andora Drive, Sarasota, FL, 34238, USA

    Richard H. Baltz

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  1. Leonard Katz
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  2. Yvonne Y. Chen
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  3. Ramon Gonzalez
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  4. Todd C. Peterson
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  5. Huimin Zhao
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  6. Richard H. Baltz
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Correspondence to Richard H. Baltz.

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Katz, L., Chen, Y.Y., Gonzalez, R. et al. Synthetic biology advances and applications in the biotechnology industry: a perspective. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol 45, 449–461 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10295-018-2056-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10295-018-2056-y

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