SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY: BIOENGINEERING AT THE GENOMIC LEVEL

The developing discipline of synthetic biology attempts to recreate in artificial systems the emergent properties found in natural biology. Because the genetic networks found in cells are often highly integrated and quite complex, redesigning simpler synthetic systems for study is a valuable approach not only at the genome level but also at the gene network level. Recently, there has been significant activity directed towards designing synthetic gene networks that mimic the functionality of natural systems. In addition to being easier to construct, the reduced complexity and increased isolation of these networks makes them more amenable to both tractable experimentation and mathematical modeling. The process of constructing and testing artificial systems resembling naturally occurring systems promises to advance our understanding of how biological systems function by providing information about cellular processes that cannot be obtained by studying intact native systems.