Synthetic Biology: Synthetic biology engineers biological systems to create new organisms or redesign existing ones for useful purposes. Scientists program DNA like software to produce biofuels, biodegradable plastics, lab-grown meat, and programmable medicines. CRISPR gene editing enables precise modifications, while cell-free systems allow biosynthesis without living cells. Applications include carbon-capturing microbes, disease-detecting bacteria, and sustainable textile production. Startups like Ginkgo Bioworks build “bio-factories” for custom molecules. Though ethical and biosafety concerns exist—especially around gene drives and biosecurity—regulation is evolving alongside innovation. Synthetic biology merges biology with engineering, turning cells into programmable factories. It holds potential to address food scarcity, pollution, and pandemics, heralding a bio-based industrial revolution that could rival the digital one in societal impact.
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