Synthetic biology themed issue

John McCarthy studied biochemistry at Oxford University, and subsequently began his research career studying the biochemistry and biophysics of electron-transport-dependent ATP synthesis. His research focus then shifted to the posttranscriptional control of gene expression, initially in prokaryotic then in eukaryotic systems. After a spell at what was the National Biotechnology Institute in Germany, he returned to the UK, where he headed the Department of Biomolecular Sciences at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology. From 1998 to 2010, he led an initiative to promote research at the interface between bioscience and the physical sciences, engineering and mathematics: the Manchester Interdisciplinary Biocentre (MIB), and was MIB Director 2004–2010. It was this commitment to interdisciplinary bioscience that led him to become an Associate Editor of Integrative Biology. John's current research utilizes a combination of approaches from systems biology, molecular bioengineering, genetics and biophysics to study (and modify) eukaryotic expression pathways. He is currently Head of the newly created School of Life Sciences at the University of Warwick and BBSRC Professorial Research Fellow.

This issue of Integrative Biology is dedicated to multiple aspects of a type of research that is commonly called synthetic biology, and which can be regarded as a domain of bioengineering. Synthetic biology aims to modify naturally evolved systems or to create novel systems de novo that are very different from naturally evolved systems. A key concept in this field is that of the parts ‘toolbox’, since there is some attraction to the notion that the combination of pre-prepared and fully characterised parts could generate a multitude of synthetic systems with predictable properties. Given the complexity of biological systems, this ambition seems likely to be only partially realisable. In this context, it is important to consider the relationship between synthetic biology and systems biology. On the one hand, the analytical and modelling strategies of systems biology can be applied in a number of ways to bioengineering challenges. On the other, man-made synthetic genetic circuitry and molecular or cellular machineries can be used to test models of naturally evolved systems. Overall, synthetic biology promises to contribute to both biotechnology and to fundamental understanding of naturally evolved biosystems. I hope that readers will find this small, but diverse, selection of articles interesting and informative.

Our selection of articles includes a discussion of alternative assembly strategies for use in synthetic biology (Ellis et al. (DOI: 10.1039/c0ib00070a)), considering how different DNA assembly strategies influence design and construction processes. MacDonald and colleagues (DOI: 10.1039/c0ib00077a) offer a perspective of the computational tools available for system design and modelling, noting the challenges posed by many (currently poorly predictable) features of biological systems. Complementing this is a review by Dada and Mendes (DOI: 10.1039/c0ib00075b) of modelling and simulation approaches in systems biology, since these are also applicable to synthetic systems. We then have two articles that illustrate the breadth of applications of the synthetic biology approach. Aljabali et al. (DOI: 10.1039/c0ib00056f) describe the use of virus-based nanoparticles that can be employed as carriers for specific metals or chemical compounds. Moving up to whole cell populations, Kim et al. (DOI: 10.1039/c0ib00019a) report how combining different bacterial species in spatially ordered structural frameworks can extend the complexity of novel functions that are achievable through synthetic biology.

We have been stringent in ensuring that all of these papers meet the robust 3 I’s (Insight, Innovation, Integration) criteria for publication in Integrative Biology and thus sincerely hope that you enjoy reading these papers.

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