Introduction

The human species has always craved exploration. We dream of moving into space, colonizing Mars, and greeting aliens…but what if instead of finding the aliens, we make them?

Synthetic biology is one of the fastest-growing sectors of biology and in the STEM field as a whole. While still at its infant age, the increase in AI power has been a huge proponent in its fast growth.

But what is this fast-growing field of biology? Simply put, synthetic biology is the redesigning of genetic code to fulfill specific purposes. This can be interpreted in many ways from gene editing to complete genome synthesis using AI.

Gene editing has always been a popular topic, the most famous example being GMOs (genetically modified organisms), which are products that have their DNA altered to produce more desirable outcomes, such as pesticide resistance or bright colors. Although synthetic biology is technically a novel field, it is already all around us.

However, the more extreme side of synthetic biology is still in its budding stages. Yes, synthetic biology encompasses gene editing, but the more exciting prospect is complete genome synthesis. With the help of AI, researchers can create entirely novel genomes, and therefore entirely new organisms.

In 2019, for the first time, scientists at ETH Zurich (A Biotech Startup) created an entire bacterial genome on a computer. They used a computer and AI to create a new organism, and at the rate that synthetic biology is growing, it is very possible that we could see aliens shortly. Yes, theoretically, we could make aliens… and what else could we do? From bacteria able to consume carbon dioxide to a real Jurassic Park, synthetic biology will surely be at the forefront of human development and the vanguard of the future. 

How Does it Work?

At this point, you are probably wondering what the science behind synthetic biology is. While the synthesizing of entire genomes is almost entirely speculative, with rare cases such as ETH Zurich, biotechnology is already used in labs. Biotechnology involves using living organisms or systems to develop products or solve problems in fields like medicine and agriculture.

To do this, scientists first begin by mapping out their organism or desired proteins. Using databases and computational methods, researchers are then able to map out the amino acids that will code for the various proteins they need. Then comes the actual synthesis of the strand, which can be done through chemical synthesis, or by using CRISPR-cas9, a bacterial enzyme that can cut out desired DNA sequences. Then comes the fun part, the hands-on expression of these DNA strands.

Researchers utilize molecular biology methods such as assembly and transformation to express these synthetic genes. Simply put, researchers use advanced lab techniques to insert the DNA strand into hosts such as bacteria, and these hosts will then be tricked into thinking that the DNA strand is their own. After they have been tricked, they transcribe and translate the synthesized gene into the desired protein. Good job! You have just read a simple recipe for a custom bacteria!

The Future of Synthetic Biology

Yes, it really is that simple (not really)! Moreover, many of the tools needed to perform synthetic biology are widely available from open source AI and computational programs capable of doing the mapping out to the lab equipment including CRISPR-CAS9 to physically express the gene! However, with such great power comes great responsibility. If these equipment fall into the wrong hands— regardless of whether the wrong hands are an evil mad scientist or an inexperienced researcher— the consequences can be devastating.

Synthetic biology is already under watch for its possibility to enable the development of lethal bioweapons, with many weary of the consequences that come with giving humanity the power to essentially edit organisms to their benefit. Perhaps, bacteria that are invincible, plastic-eating, capable of surviving the vacuum of space, or even conquering nearby galaxies, can be synthesized as well; one can’t help but wonder the consequences that could arise from the field’s development. Yes, synthetic biology is still in its infancy, but it has already been forced onto a precipice; the future is in our hands and what to do with it is up to us.