synthetic biologysynthetic biology
The branch of biology that involves undertaking large-scale manipulation of DNA sequences in order to modify biological systems to perform novel functions, such as the production of drugs or the destruction of cancer cells.
- attributive form of synthetic biology
- synthetic-biology proponent
- The application of genetic engineering to generate modified or even completely new forms of life. Distinguished from older methods of transgenics by the use of either outright synthesised DNA or DNA which has been modified heavily to become more predictable and standardised. A heavy focus on modular design of genetic "parts" makes synthetic biology more of an engineering discipline than a form of pure science.