SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY              

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Context:

• The Centre is working on a national policy on synthetic biology.

About:

• Synthetic biology is the design and construction of new biological parts, devices, and systems, and the re-design of existing, natural biological systems for useful purposes.
• It deals with engineering life forms for a wide range of applications from making designer medicines to foods.

Aim:

• It aims at the redesign and fabrication of biological components and systems that do not already exist in the natural world.

What can Synthetic Biology do?

• Redesigning organisms so that they produce a substance, such as a medicine or fuel, or gain a new ability, such as sensing something in the environment. Some examples of what scientists are producing with synthetic biology are:
• Microorganisms harnessed for bioremediation to clean pollutants from our water, soil and air.
• Rice modified to produce beta-carotene, a nutrient usually associated with carrots, that prevents vitamin A deficiency.

Final Thoughts:

• Synthetic biology, is seen as one of the top 10 breakthrough technologies as part of the “new industrial revolution” that are “most likely to change the world”.
• National regulation of both the benefits and risks become important for accelerating pace of scientific research of synthetic.

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