Synthetic biology is a field of science that focuses on building fully operational biological systems from the smallest constituents, such as DNA, protein, and other organic molecules.1
Over the years, technological advancements have enabled synthetic biologists to develop complete synthetic organisms, such as complex bacteria that can neutralize toxic chemicals, and design synthetic platforms for varied metabolite synthesis for wide-ranging applications.
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Synthetic Biology in 2025
Synthetic biology uses engineering-based modeling methods to modify the structures of existing organisms or to develop a new one from scratch.
Decoding the central dogma of life at the molecular level and uncovering the cellular mechanisms have paved the way for bioengineers to develop various synthetic biology applications.
Continual research has refined synthetic genetic circuits, introduced novel cell-free systems, and developed biosensor-based therapy, which has significantly improved the reach of this technology.
Synthetic Genetic Circuits
Synthetic genetic circuits serve as basic building blocks of synthetic biology because they enable the redesigning of cellular functions.2
It comprises structures such as logic gates, single-cell layered circuits, oscillators, toggle switches, and multi-cell communication circuits, as well as additional features through which cell functioning and mechanisms can be modified.
Genetic circuits help prevent unwanted modification of a specific DNA, RNA, or protein, enabling control over gene expression and cellular behavior. Researchers can customize synthetic genetic circuits to control therapeutic interventions precisely.
Integration of synthetic genetic circuits in next-generation chimeric antigen receptor (CAR-T) cells offers scope for environmental cues. Multiple studies have shown that the implementation of specific features, such as autoregulation, antigen recognition, and drug-inducible gene circuits, have significantly improved the safety and efficacy of CAR-T therapies.3
A relatively recent integration of synthetic biology with artificial intelligence has expanded the complexity and design options of genetic circuits.4
The recent advances in non-viral gene transfer systems may facilitate the implementation of larger genetic circuits, which could make immunotherapies more effective and precise.
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Biosensor-Based Therapy
Synthetic biology has been implemented to design personalized biological devices with desired cellular functions. Biosensor-based therapeutics have the potential to detect and quantify the targeted molecules with clinical significance rapidly.5
For example, scientists have designed a genetically encoded protein thermometer by integrating mutant coiled-coil temperature-responsive protein sensors to synthetic transcription factors and activating transgene expression in the 37-40 °C range.
Two-component systems (TCSs) are more frequently used sensors in synthetic biology. Bioengineered TCS sensor, designed by combining Bacillus subtilis nitrate and E. coli aspartic acid, enables the detection of thiosulfate and tetrathionate, which are important biomarkers of gut inflammation.6
Researchers have also developed a “sentinel” bacterium that responds to the biomarker nitric oxide (NO) by producing a uniform and intense fluorescence. NO is an important compound involved with various biological functions, including immunological response, vasodilation, neurotransmission, and wound healing.
Cell-Free Systems
Although the majority of synthetic biology tools are based on cell-based systems that underwent significant progress in the past decades, the inherent constraints of these systems have limited their scope in applications.
For instance, the self-replicability of cell-based systems presents the risk of escape or contamination, which could adversely affect human health, food security, and the environment.
The recent advent of cell-free systems (CFS) has the potential to accelerate synthetic biology applications rapidly.7 CFS are regarded as programmable liquids, which typically contain enzymes necessary for transcription and translation. These systems can be derived from eukaryotes or prokaryotes.
CFS can be modified with proteins or small molecules to augment the performance of synthetic gene networks.
These platforms offer immense opportunities for rational design and manipulation of biological systems. To date, scientists have used CFS to manufacture therapeutics, discover biological pathways, and develop biosensors.
Minimal Genomes
The engineering of synthetic minimal genomes has enabled researchers to understand the fundamentals of genome biology better. This method will shed light on the minimal genome requirement of a cell to function.
Synthetic minimal genomes will help understand the extent to which genomes can be defragmented and refactored without altering their functional capacity. It will also help elucidate the roles of non-coding DNA and repetitive elements.
Synthetic Chromosomes
Scientists have created synthetic chromosomes from natural components in S. cerevisiae through a practice called CReATiNG (Cloning, Reprogramming, and Assembly of Tiled Natural Genomic DNA). These chromosomes can carry genetic material independently of other genetic components.
Synthetic chromosomes can facilitate the transfer of genetic material between different species of a species.
These chromosomes enable the introduction of multiple transgenes and multigene complexes and facilitate the removal or addition of entire biochemical pathways into plants.
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Synthetic Biology Applications
In the last two decades, a significant increase in the application of synthetic biology in food production, medicine, energy, and general industry has been documented.8
Environment: Synthetic biology offers sustainable solutions to the most prevalent environmental issues, including climate change, purification of biological waste, and environmental protection.
For instance, scientists used synthetic biology to develop crops that absorb more carbon dioxide, thereby contributing to the fight against climate change. It also enables the creation of organisms that can break down pollutants or convert waste into bioenergy.
Agriculture: Synthetic biology has wide-ranging applications in agriculture, i.e., from the development of resilient or drought-resistant plants to enhancing metabolites for biomanufacturing purposes.
Furthermore, Pivot Bio has manufactured a biological fertilizer based on γ-proteobacteria (KV137) that can fix nitrogen in corn roots.
Medicines: Synthetic biology has rapidly progressed in the field of medicine. For example, engineered viruses and organisms are designed to target specific disease agents and pathological mechanisms.
Currently, bacteria-based live therapeutics and diagnostics have attracted researchers for their potential to treat various diseases.
Challenges and Future Outlook
By 2030, synthetic biology could evolve towards integrating designed products with lifeless materials or electronics. Plants and bacteria could be engineered to communicate with each other, and these communications could be assessed via unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Based on the intercepted signals, scientists would be able to control gene expression and promote favorable outcomes.
In the future, synthetic biology can also be applied in alternative food production, where consortiums of bacteria, fungi, and animal cells could be exploited to produce meat alternatives with similar taste, nutrition, and flavor.
Although synthetic biology exhibits immense potential to accelerate biological research and improve human life, it bears the risk of an accidental or unintentional production of harmful biological entities with high pathogenicity and transmissibility. Biological weapons could be developed using synthetic biology tools, posing a new and unique threat area.
To minimized risks of unintentional or accidental production of organisms, scientists follow extreme caution and stringent protocols while working in non-confined environments.9 It is essential for scientists to adhere to the principles of human-centeredness, sustainability, and non-maleficence to reduce unwanted risks.
Enhancing technical capabilities to detect biocontainment, improving legal safeguards through top-level design, and robust ethical governance will alleviate issues that limits synthetic biology applications.
References
- Liang J, Luo Y, Zhao H. Synthetic biology: putting synthesis into biology. Wiley Interdiscip Rev Syst Biol Med. 2011;3(1):7-20. doi: 10.1002/wsbm.104.
- Brophy JAN, et al. Synthetic genetic circuits as a means of reprogramming plant roots. Science. 2022;377,747-751.DOI:10.1126/science.abo4326
- Lu L, et al. Enhancing the safety of CAR-T cell therapy: Synthetic genetic switch for spatiotemporal control. Sci Adv. 2024;10(8):eadj6251. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adj6251.
- Karataş, P., Ayaz, F. Synthetic biology and application areas. Discov Biotechnol. 2025; 2(3). doi.org/10.1007/s44340-025-00010-5
- Hicks M, et al. Synthetic Biology Enables Programmable Cell-Based Biosensors. Chemphyschem. 2020;21(2):132-144. doi: 10.1002/cphc.201900739.
- Daeffler KN, et al. Engineering bacterial thiosulfate and tetrathionate sensors for detecting gut inflammation. Mol Syst Biol. 2017;13(4):923. doi: 10.15252/msb.20167416.
- Tinafar A. et al. Synthetic Biology Goes Cell-Free. BMC Biol. 2019; 17,64. doi.org/10.1186/s12915-019-0685-x
- Yan X. et al. Applications of synthetic biology in medical and pharmaceutical fields. Sig Transduct Target Ther. 2023; 8, 199. doi.org/10.1038/s41392-023-01440-5
- Ou Y, Guo S. Safety risks and ethical governance of biomedical applications of synthetic biology. Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2023;11:1292029. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1292029.