title: Synthetic biology: applications come of age.
abstract: Synthetic biology is bringing together engineers and biologists to design and build novel biomolecular components, networks and pathways, and to use these constructs to rewire and reprogram organisms. These re-engineered organisms will change our lives over the coming years, leading to cheaper drugs, 'green' means to fuel our cars and targeted therapies for attacking 'superbugs' and diseases, such as cancer. The de novo engineering of genetic circuits, biological modules and synthetic pathways is beginning to address these crucial problems and is being used in related practical applications.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for BioDynamics and Center for Advanced Biotechnology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA.
authors.forename: Ahmad S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Khalil
authors.forename: James J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Collins
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D056804:Biofuels; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000639:trends*; D004358:Drug Therapy; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D006801:Humans; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D056804:Biofuels
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