Synthetic biology is an interdisciplinary branch of biology and engineering. The subject combines several disciplines within these domains, such as biotechnology, evolutionary biology, genetic engineering, molecular biology, molecular engineering, systems biology, biophysics and computer engineering.
Descriptions of synthetic biology depend on who approaches it, the biologist, or the engineer. Initially seen as a subset of biology, in recent years the role of electrical and chemical engineering has become more important. For example, one approach designates synthetic biology as “an emerging discipline that uses engineering principles to design and assemble biological components”. Another is “a new emerging scientific field where ICT, biotechnology and nanotechnology converge and grow stronger”.
The definition of synthetic biology is debated, not only between natural scientists and engineers, but also in the humanities, arts, and politics. One commonly used definition is “designing and building biological modules, biological systems, and biological machines for useful purposes”. However, the functional aspects of this definition are rooted in molecular biology and biotechnology.
As the use of the term has expanded to many interdisciplinary areas, synthetic biology has recently been defined as “the design and artificial engineering of biological systems and living organisms with the aim of improving applications for industry or biological research”.
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