The 21st century is experiencing an unprecedented surge in biological advancements, fueled by our growing ability to engineer living systems with precision. A special issue of Chemical Reviews on Synthetic Biology highlights the transformative role of chemists in this revolution. In a compelling introduction, Prof. Bryan C. Dickinson from the University of Chicago’s Department of Chemistry underscores how chemists, with their expertise in molecular design and synthesis, are shaping the future of biology by building, modifying, and reprogramming biological systems at the molecular level.  

This issue delves into a diverse range of topics, from the discovery and design of novel bioactive compounds to the engineering of bacteriophages as antibiotic alternatives. Dickinson emphasizes that chemists are inherently builders, synthesizing complex molecules, assembling functional biological systems, and pioneering innovative biotechnological applications.

The reviews featured in this issue showcase how synthetic biology is driving fundamental discoveries and real-world advancements, spanning natural product biosynthesis, synthetic lipid biology, protein function control, and phage engineering.  

Beyond these advancements, synthetic biology is revolutionizing metabolic engineering, biosensors, and cellular reprogramming allowing scientists to develop bio-based materials, precision therapeutics, and next-generation diagnostics. The convergence of chemistry, biology, and engineering is accelerating the creation of tailor-made enzymes, programmable genetic circuits, and artificial cells, offering solutions to pressing challenges in medicine, agriculture, and environmental sustainability.  

By integrating chemistry with synthetic biology, researchers are unlocking new frontiers in medicine, biotechnology, and our fundamental understanding of life. This special issue celebrates the fearless and inventive spirit of chemists, whose interdisciplinary approach continues to expand the boundaries of possibility. As synthetic biology evolves, it holds the promise of custom-designed therapeutics, sustainable bio-manufacturing, and even the creation of synthetic life, paving the way for transformative breakthroughs that could redefine the future of science and technology.

Source: https://chemistry.uchicago.edu/news/engineering-lifes-future-synthetic-biology