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Frontiers of Engineering Reports on Leading-Edge Engineering from the 2005 Symposium (2006) / Chapter Skim
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The Promise of Synthetic Biology
Pages 83-88

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From page 83...
... Given this very low success rate and the incredibly high costs, drug companies must introduce as many drug candidates into their pipelines as possible. Natural products have been important sources of drug leads; as much as 60 percent of successful drugs are of natural origin (Cragg et al., 1997)
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From page 84...
... BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING FOR THE SYNTHESIS OF DRUGS Rich, versatile biological systems are ideally suited to solving some of the world's most significant challenges, such as converting cheap, renewable resources into energy-rich molecules; producing high-quality, inexpensive drugs to fight disease; detecting and destroying chemical or biological agents; and remediating polluted sites. Over the years, significant strides have been made in engineering microorganisms to produce ethanol, bulk chemicals, and valuable drugs from inexpensive starting materials; to detect and degrade nerve agents as well as less toxic organic pollutants; and to accumulate metals and reduce radionuclides.
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From page 85...
... The development of open-source biological technology would improve awareness of, and minimize possible future biological risks, in the same way that open-source software tends to promote a constructive and responsive community of users and developers. SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY Synthetic biology is the design and construction of new biological entities, such as enzymes, genetic circuits, and cells, or the redesign of existing biological systems.
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From page 86...
... By thoughtfully redesigning natural living systems, it is possible simultaneously to test our current understanding and potentially implement engineered systems that are easier to interact with and study. Fourth, biology can be used as a technology, and biotechnology, broadly redefined, includes the engineering of integrated biological systems for the purposes of processing information, producing energy, manufacturing chemicals, and fabricating materials.
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From page 87...
... 2002. Heterologous expression of a Rauvolfia cDNA encoding strictosidine glucosidase, a biosynthetic key to over 2000 monoterpenoid in dole alkaloids.
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From page 88...
... 2001. The in vivo synthesis of plant sesquiterpenes in Escherichia coli.
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Key Terms

  • biological engineering
  • natural products
  • escherichia coli
  • biological solutions
  • genetic circuits

  • integrated biological
  • starting materials
  • inexpensive starting
  • polyketide synthase
  • natural origin

  • engineering challenges
  • drug candidates
  • drug development
  • drug companies
  • biotechnology industry

  • larger biological
  • biological entities
  • biological risks
  • distinguishes synthetic
  • existing biological

  • versatile biological
  • future biological
  • biological technology
  • engineered biological
  • biological agents

  • engineering biological
  • synthetic biological
  • biological devices
  • biological research
  • effective biological


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