Building synthetic cell systems from the ground up

01.08.2012

Alper H, Weber W

Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2012; 23(5):641-3

Synthetic biology offers the capacity to systematically rewire biological systems. Moreover, the rate of discovery in this field has been rapidly expanding as a result of new technologies such as DNA synthesis, high-throughput sequencing, novel cell screening techniques, and systems biology. This special issue is dedicated to the overview of how we can build cell systems by intervening at the essential nodes of cellular function. These manipulations span genome engineering via gene expression control and metabolism to intracellular and intercellular signaling systems. In particular, the intersection between synthetic biology and engineering is covered in five broad areas as outlined below.

BIOSS

Building synthetic cell systems from the ground up