Synthetic Biology: Engineering Living Systems from Biophysical Principles

Overview

Journal Biophys J

Publisher Cell Press

Specialty Biophysics

Date 2017 Mar 30

PMID 28355534

Citations 12

Authors

Bryan A Bartley

Kyung Kim

J Kyle Medley

Herbert M Sauro

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Synthetic biology was founded as a biophysical discipline that sought explanations for the origins of life from chemical and physical first principles. Modern synthetic biology has been reinvented as an engineering discipline to design new organisms as well as to better understand fundamental biological mechanisms. However, success is still largely limited to the laboratory and transformative applications of synthetic biology are still in their infancy. Here, we review six principles of living systems and how they compare and contrast with engineered systems. We cite specific examples from the synthetic biology literature that illustrate these principles and speculate on their implications for further study. To fully realize the promise of synthetic biology, we must be aware of life's unique properties.

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