Synthetic biology in China: Review and prospects

Abstract

Biosafety and biosecurity in the era of synthetic biology: Meeting the challenges in China and the U.S.

Regulation and management of the biosecurity for synthetic biology

“…SynBio also entails novel risks including the wide availability of SynBio technologies, the widespread of unregulated dissemination of information about SynBio, the possibility of enhancing the virulence of pathogens, and the design of entirely new pathogens through SybBio, and DIYSynBio, etc. These factors contribute to SynBio's differences from other biotechnologies, so regulations and policies specifically for the biosecurity of SynBio are urgently needed [ 9 , 10 , 34 , [49] , [50] , [51] ].…”

“…Compared to other developed countries, synthetic biology research in China has been rising slowly in an early time, but has developed rapidly in recent decades. The Chinese research plan on SynBio was formulated in 2011, and investment in SynBio research on the topics of material transformation, ecological and environmental protection, health and agriculture have increased over the years [ 51 ]. To date, ten National Key Basic Research and Development Programs on Synthetic Biology (973 Program), one National High Technology Research and Development Program (863 Program) on SynBio and four National Key Research and Development Programs on SynBio in China have been launched, with the research including artificial genome synthesis and advanced chassis cell construction, artificial components and gene circuits, artificial anabolism and complex biological systems, and enabling technology systems, etc.…”

“…To date, ten National Key Basic Research and Development Programs on Synthetic Biology (973 Program), one National High Technology Research and Development Program (863 Program) on SynBio and four National Key Research and Development Programs on SynBio in China have been launched, with the research including artificial genome synthesis and advanced chassis cell construction, artificial components and gene circuits, artificial anabolism and complex biological systems, and enabling technology systems, etc. [ 51 ].…”

One-Step Purification and Immobilization of Glycosyltransferase with Zn–Ni MOF for the Synthesis of Rare Ginsenoside Rh2

“…The preparation methods of ginsenoside Rh2 include plant extraction, chemical synthesis, and cell factory construction by synthetic biology. 5 Zhuang et al 6 successfully achieved the highest titer (∼300 mg/L) of Rh2 production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae to date by combining protein engineering of an inherently promiscuous glycosyltransferase (GT) and metabolic engineering. Nevertheless, these methods are nonenvironment friendly, have low yields, and cannot be industrialized.…”

Enabling technology and core theory of synthetic biology

“…Synthetic biology, also referred to as engineering biology, is a newly emerging interdisciplinary subject. It integrates biological sciences, chemistry, physics, material science, computer and information science, as well as engineering concepts to redesign or de novo design and construct biological systems, creating a new paradigm of biological research known as "Build to learn" and empowering current biotechnology a new driving force, called "Build to use" (Deng, 2019;Elowitz and Lim, 2010;Liu et al, 2013;Zhang, 2018;Zhang, 2019;Zhao, 2018). Synthetic biology consists of three interrelated aspects: theory, enabling technology, and applied research.…”