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Non-living materials may be imbued with properties of living organisms, such as self-repair.[3](/citation/2025-05-5-1-3/) Alternatively, microorganisms can be engineered to produce desirable molecules, for instance by genome synthesis or directed evolution.\n\nAt the level of cells, artificial versions of key biomolecules such as nucleic acids can be synthesised and introduced into the genomes of microorganisms.[4](/citation/2025-05-5-1-4/) Other engineered cells can be used as biosensors, for instance to detect threats,[5](/citation/2025-05-5-1-5/) to produce other useful chemicals or to break down harmful ones such as pollutants. They can also be induced to form tissues and organs, which could be used in place of transplants.[6](/citation/2025-05-5-1-6/)\n\nMulticellular organisms can be modified using genome synthesis editing. There have also been preliminary attempts to create wholly artificial multicellular organisms.[7](/citation/2025-05-5-1-7/)\n\nGiven its wide-ranging applications, there is a need for synthetic biology to be developed alongside ethical and societal expertise in order to shape how and why decisions are being made, and for whom.\n\n**KEY TAKEAWAYS**\n\nSynthetic biology enables the creation and modification of living organisms, and of their molecular building blocks. The field is advancing rapidly. In **fundamental synthetic biology**, faster and better genome editing, and other technologies, are enabling the development of heavily modified organisms. The potential applications of synthetic biology are immensely varied. The approach is already being used in **Medicine and health**, for instance to develop genetic therapies for inherited diseases, to engineer new medicines, and to design new cancer therapies. Likewise, there is considerable potential to improve **Manufacturing, industry and agriculture**. Synthetic biology enables new technologies such as bioelectronics and the creation of new materials. Bioplastics created from living organisms could replace at least some plastics from fossil fuels. Synthetic pesticides and gene drives may reduce crop losses and also cut costs. Finally, there are emerging applications in **Energy, climate and conservation**. These include engineering at-risk organisms to be more resilient against environmental change and using microorganisms to produce zero-carbon fuels such as green hydrogen. Because of the potential risks to humans and ecosystems, there is an urgent need to develop security measurements for synthetic biology."},"intro":{"text":"Synthetic biology is a set of emerging technologies enabling the modification and creation of living cells and organisms, and of their building blocks. It promises breakthroughs in fundamental biology and has possible applications in fields ranging from nutrition to engineering.[1](/citation/2025-05-5-1-1/)\n"},"anticipatoryImpact":{"text":"Three fundamental questions guide GESDA’s mission and drive its work: Who are we, as humans? How can we all live together? How can we ensure the well-being of humankind and the sustainable future of our planet? We asked researchers from the field to anticipate what impact future breakthroughs could have on each of these dimensions. This wheel summarises their opinions when considering each of these questions, with a higher score indicating high anticipated impact, and vice versa.\n\n* Anticipated impact on who we are as humans\n* Anticipated impact on how we will all live together\n* Anticipated impact on the well-being of humankind and sustainable future of our planet"},"indicatorValues":[{"id":"65c55cf49e947c438698ab07","value":"0.549","numericValue":0.549,"year":2024,"indicator":{"id":"65c55cf29e947c438698aa4d","name":"Anticipation Potential","title":null,"slug":"anticipation-potential","dataSetId":"ANTICIPATION_POTENTIAL","color":null}},{"id":"68a691bd0ac1330579fd7955","value":"0.5696","numericValue":0.5696,"year":2025,"indicator":{"id":"65c55cf29e947c438698aa4d","name":"Anticipation Potential","title":null,"slug":"anticipation-potential","dataSetId":"ANTICIPATION_POTENTIAL","color":null}}],"editions":[{"id":"66ab1bb636a8f2f336a557bf","name":"2024","slug":"2024","numericValue":2024},{"id":"684951c963371e51d83bdf31","name":"2025","slug":"2025","numericValue":2025}],"anticipatoryImpactImage":{"image":{"id":"image_gesda-platform/image-asset/psp-pl-5-25-5-4_image__PSP-PL5_25_5.4_ie2hlr","url":"https://res.cloudinary.com/shapeable/image/upload/v1760070880/gesda-platform/image-asset/psp-pl-5-25-5-4_image__PSP-PL5_25_5.4_ie2hlr.webp"}},"embeds":{"citations":[{"id":"691a7a02c0043bba84a9e89d","slug":"2025-05-5-1-1","url":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-20122-2","name":"Synthetic biology 2020–2030: six commercially-available products that are changing our world","authors":[{"id":"691a7a01c0043bba84a9e89b","name":"C.A. 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Karim et al.","slug":"a-s-karim-et-al"}],"authorShowsEtAl":null,"edition":null,"publication":"Nat Commun","accessDate":null,"startPage":5425,"volume":15,"footnoteNumber":2,"year":null},{"id":"691a7a03c0043bba84a9e8a5","slug":"2025-05-5-1-3","url":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41589-020-00697-z","name":"Living materials fabricated via gradient mineralization of light-inducible biofilms","authors":[{"id":"691a7a02c0043bba84a9e8a3","name":"Y.Wang et al.","slug":"y-wang-et-al"}],"authorShowsEtAl":null,"edition":null,"publication":"Nature Chemical Biology","accessDate":null,"startPage":351,"volume":17,"footnoteNumber":3,"year":null},{"id":"691a7a03c0043bba84a9e8a9","slug":"2025-05-5-1-4","url":"https://doi.org/10.1038/nature24659","name":"A semi-synthetic organism that stores and retrieves increased genetic information","authors":[{"id":"691a7a03c0043bba84a9e8a7","name":"Y. Zhang et al.","slug":"y-zhang-et-al"}],"authorShowsEtAl":null,"edition":null,"publication":"Nature","accessDate":null,"startPage":644,"volume":551,"footnoteNumber":4,"year":null},{"id":"691a7a04c0043bba84a9e8ad","slug":"2025-05-5-1-5","url":"https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt.3791","name":"Remote detection of buried landmines using a bacterial sensor","authors":[{"id":"691a7a03c0043bba84a9e8ab","name":"S. Belkin et al.","slug":"s-belkin-et-al"}],"authorShowsEtAl":null,"edition":null,"publication":"Nature Biotechnology","accessDate":null,"startPage":308,"volume":35,"footnoteNumber":5,"year":null},{"id":"691a7a04c0043bba84a9e8b1","slug":"2025-05-5-1-6","url":"https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms15261","name":"A bioprosthetic ovary created using 3D printed microporous scaffolds restores ovarian function in sterilized mice","authors":[{"id":"691a7a04c0043bba84a9e8af","name":"M.M. Laronda et al.","slug":"m-m-laronda-et-al"}],"authorShowsEtAl":null,"edition":null,"publication":"Nature Communications","accessDate":null,"startPage":15261,"volume":8,"footnoteNumber":6,"year":null},{"id":"691a7a05c0043bba84a9e8b5","slug":"2025-05-5-1-7","url":"https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1910837117","name":"A scalable pipeline for designing reconfigurable organisms","authors":[{"id":"691a7a05c0043bba84a9e8b3","name":"S. Kriegman et al.","slug":"s-kriegman-et-al"}],"authorShowsEtAl":null,"edition":null,"publication":"PNAS","accessDate":null,"startPage":185,"volume":117,"footnoteNumber":7,"year":null}],"imageAssets":[]},"surveyObservations":{"text":"The ability to modify and create organisms, living cells or their building blocks could lead to major breakthroughs in fundamental biology and unleash new possibilities in nutrition, pharmaceuticals and engineering. While breakthroughs in synthetic biomolecules and tissues are expected in the next six years, progress in synthetic cells and multicellular organisms is further away. Future breakthroughs in Synthetic Biology will be hugely transformational and therefore the field has a high overall Anticipation Potential score."},"color":{"id":"6a9a0ba358e76338f2a563dc","name":"Terracotta","slug":"terracotta","value":"#D3623A","darkValue":null,"veryDarkValue":null},"banner":{"id":"6a9244bcd215991948806029","name":"\"Silica, star of the deeps\" by France Bourely, EPFL","description":{"text":"\"Silica, star of the deeps\" by France Bourely, EPFL"},"image":{"id":"image_gesda-platform/banner/silica-star-of-the-deeps-by-france-bourely-epfl_image__22Silica_star_of_the_deeps_22_by_France_Bourely_EPFL_xpou6l","url":"https://res.cloudinary.com/shapeable/image/upload/v1787970639/gesda-platform/banner/silica-star-of-the-deeps-by-france-bourely-epfl_image__22Silica_star_of_the_deeps_22_by_France_Bourely_EPFL_xpou6l.jpg","thumbnails":{"mainBanner":{"url":"https://res.cloudinary.com/shapeable/image/upload/c_limit,w_1440/v1787970639/gesda-platform/banner/silica-star-of-the-deeps-by-france-bourely-epfl_image__22Silica_star_of_the_deeps_22_by_France_Bourely_EPFL_xpou6l.jpg","url2x":"https://res.cloudinary.com/shapeable/image/upload/c_limit,w_2880/v1787970639/gesda-platform/banner/silica-star-of-the-deeps-by-france-bourely-epfl_image__22Silica_star_of_the_deeps_22_by_France_Bourely_EPFL_xpou6l.jpg"}}}},"chartImage":null,"citations":[{"__typename":"Platform_Citation","_schema":{"label":"Citation","pluralLabel":"Citations"},"typeLabel":"Journal","slug":"2025-05-5-1-1","url":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-20122-2","name":"Synthetic biology 2020–2030: six commercially-available products that are changing our world","authors":[{"id":"691a7a01c0043bba84a9e89b","name":"C.A. Voigt","slug":"c-a-voigt"}],"authorShowsEtAl":null,"edition":null,"publication":"Nature Communications","accessDate":null,"startPage":6379,"volume":11,"footnoteNumber":1,"year":null},{"__typename":"Platform_Citation","_schema":{"label":"Citation","pluralLabel":"Citations"},"typeLabel":"Journal","slug":"2025-05-5-1-2","url":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-49626-x","name":"Deconstructing synthetic biology across scales: a conceptual approach for training synthetic biologists","authors":[{"id":"691a7a02c0043bba84a9e89f","name":"A.S. Karim et al.","slug":"a-s-karim-et-al"}],"authorShowsEtAl":null,"edition":null,"publication":"Nat Commun","accessDate":null,"startPage":5425,"volume":15,"footnoteNumber":2,"year":null},{"__typename":"Platform_Citation","_schema":{"label":"Citation","pluralLabel":"Citations"},"typeLabel":"Journal","slug":"2025-05-5-1-3","url":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41589-020-00697-z","name":"Living materials fabricated via gradient mineralization of light-inducible biofilms","authors":[{"id":"691a7a02c0043bba84a9e8a3","name":"Y.Wang et al.","slug":"y-wang-et-al"}],"authorShowsEtAl":null,"edition":null,"publication":"Nature Chemical Biology","accessDate":null,"startPage":351,"volume":17,"footnoteNumber":3,"year":null},{"__typename":"Platform_Citation","_schema":{"label":"Citation","pluralLabel":"Citations"},"typeLabel":"Journal","slug":"2025-05-5-1-4","url":"https://doi.org/10.1038/nature24659","name":"A semi-synthetic organism that stores and retrieves increased genetic information","authors":[{"id":"691a7a03c0043bba84a9e8a7","name":"Y. Zhang et al.","slug":"y-zhang-et-al"}],"authorShowsEtAl":null,"edition":null,"publication":"Nature","accessDate":null,"startPage":644,"volume":551,"footnoteNumber":4,"year":null},{"__typename":"Platform_Citation","_schema":{"label":"Citation","pluralLabel":"Citations"},"typeLabel":"Journal","slug":"2025-05-5-1-5","url":"https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt.3791","name":"Remote detection of buried landmines using a bacterial sensor","authors":[{"id":"691a7a03c0043bba84a9e8ab","name":"S. Belkin et al.","slug":"s-belkin-et-al"}],"authorShowsEtAl":null,"edition":null,"publication":"Nature Biotechnology","accessDate":null,"startPage":308,"volume":35,"footnoteNumber":5,"year":null},{"__typename":"Platform_Citation","_schema":{"label":"Citation","pluralLabel":"Citations"},"typeLabel":"Journal","slug":"2025-05-5-1-6","url":"https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms15261","name":"A bioprosthetic ovary created using 3D printed microporous scaffolds restores ovarian function in sterilized mice","authors":[{"id":"691a7a04c0043bba84a9e8af","name":"M.M. Laronda et al.","slug":"m-m-laronda-et-al"}],"authorShowsEtAl":null,"edition":null,"publication":"Nature Communications","accessDate":null,"startPage":15261,"volume":8,"footnoteNumber":6,"year":null},{"__typename":"Platform_Citation","_schema":{"label":"Citation","pluralLabel":"Citations"},"typeLabel":"Journal","slug":"2025-05-5-1-7","url":"https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1910837117","name":"A scalable pipeline for designing reconfigurable organisms","authors":[{"id":"691a7a05c0043bba84a9e8b3","name":"S. Kriegman et al.","slug":"s-kriegman-et-al"}],"authorShowsEtAl":null,"edition":null,"publication":"PNAS","accessDate":null,"startPage":185,"volume":117,"footnoteNumber":7,"year":null}],"subTopics":[{"id":"65c55d4f9e947c438698b696","name":"Fundamental synthetic biology","path":"/sub-topics/fundamental-synthetic-biology","outlineNumber":"5.1.1","slug":"fundamental-synthetic-biology","__typename":"Platform_SubTopic","color":{"id":"6a9a0ba358e76338f2a563dc","name":"Terracotta","value":"#D3623A"},"topic":{"id":"65c55d599e947c438698b7c0","slug":"synthetic-biology-1","path":"/topics/synthetic-biology"},"intro":{"text":"The aim of synthetic biology is to treat life as programmable matter and to reprogram it to serve human ends. This requires understanding the intricate mechanisms underpinning living cells and devising ways to manipulate those systems. Genome editing, for instance using CRISPR-Cas, is a key tool.[8](/citation/2025-05-5-1-8/) DNA synthesis has become much faster and cheaper, enabling researchers to create microorganisms with wholly synthetic genomes from scratch.[9](/citation/2025-05-5-1-9/) AI will be a major driver for advances in synthetic biology. This has already been seen with AlphaFold’s ability to convert DNA sequence into predictable protein structures."},"description":{"text":"A major challenge is to create generic platforms for synthetic biology. These will improve the accessibility of the technology, especially in the developing world, and open the way to more repeatable experiments. Synthetic biology platforms could include artificial vesicles for catalysis of reactions and delivery of molecules,[10](/citation/2025-05-5-1-10/) programmable systems for gluing proteins,[11](/citation/2025-05-5-1-11/) and microorganisms with minimal genomes that are more readily reprogrammed and rationally designed.[12](/citation/2025-05-5-1-12/) Ecosystems of synthetic organisms also have potential but are under-explored.[13](/citation/2025-05-5-1-13/)\n\nIn order to achieve the desired goals quickly and effectively, there is a need to develop new methods of designing synthetic organisms. Multiple avenues are being explored: some focus on designing organisms that exhibit goal-seeking and problem-solving behaviours,[14](/citation/2025-05-5-1-14/) while others are aiming for an open-ended evolutionary process that will continue to develop and change.[15](/citation/2025-05-5-1-15/)\n\nThe opportunities of synthetic biology come with risk. Engineered organisms have considerable potential to harm humans and ecosystems intentionally or accidentally. Hence some synthetic biologists are devising ways to contain their engineered organisms:[16](/citation/2025-05-5-1-16/) for instance, ensuring organisms can only survive when given a specific chemical that is not found in nature.[17](/citation/2025-05-5-1-17/)The best strategies will use multiple orthogonal control systems, providing several fail-safes to minimise the chances of escape.[18](/citation/2025-05-5-1-18/)"},"anticipationScores":{"text":"The Anticipation Potential of a research field is determined by the capacity for impactful action in the present, considering possible future transformative breakthroughs in a field over a 25-year outlook. A field with a high Anticipation Potential, therefore, combines the potential range of future transformative possibilities engendered by a research area with a wide field of opportunities for action in the present. We asked researchers in the field to anticipate: \n\n1. The *uncertainty* related to future science breakthroughs in the field\n2. The *transformative* *effect* anticipated breakthroughs may have on research and society\n3. The *scope for action* in the present in relation to anticipated breakthroughs. \n\nThis chart represents a summary of their responses to each of these elements, which when combined, provide the *Anticipation Potential* for the topic. See [methodology](/science-anticipation/methodology) for more information."},"anticipationScoresImage":{"id":"68e8a13e63d1c853e9788cc0","image":{"id":"image_gesda-platform/image-asset/5-4-1-sub-anti-2026_image__5.4.1_sub_anti_2026_xw7amd","url":"https://res.cloudinary.com/shapeable/image/upload/v1760076082/gesda-platform/image-asset/5-4-1-sub-anti-2026_image__5.4.1_sub_anti_2026_xw7amd.webp","url2x":null,"width":1200,"height":1200}},"horizons":[{"__typename":"Platform_Horizon","id":"65c55ce69e947c438698a87b","name":"5.4.1 - 25-year horizon","slug":"5-4-1-25-year-horizon","intro":{"text":"AI improves user access for synthesis"},"description":{"text":"Integration of AI enables users to supply instructions in human language, which are then implemented in the molecular construction. Rational design of synthetic microbial ecosystems is achieved. Researchers develop fully designed microbial genomes for specific tasks. Heavily automated synthetic-biology labs function as “cloud labs” for biological research. Massive parallel editing of genomes, with hundreds of thousands of changes at a time, becomes possible. Sustainable partnership with the planet allows the design of entire biological ecosystems that serve those who need them the most."},"color":{"__typename":"Platform_Color","id":"6a9a0ba358e76338f2a563dc","name":"Terracotta","slug":"terracotta","value":"#D3623A"},"type":{"__typename":"Platform_HorizonType","id":"65c55ce79e947c438698a89c","name":"25-year horizon","slug":"25-year-horizon","years":25,"title":"25-year","subtitle":"horizon"},"embeds":{"citations":[]}},{"__typename":"Platform_Horizon","id":"65c55ce69e947c438698a87a","name":"5.4.1 - 10-year horizon","slug":"5-4-1-10-year-horizon","intro":{"text":"Synthesis costs fall"},"description":{"text":"DNA synthesis becomes as cheap as DNA sequencing. Generic, widely accessible platforms and chassis for synthetic biology appear. Synthetic biology and biomaterial design are integrated. Dependence on plasmids is reduced, allowing integration of much longer DNA sequences into organisms. Improved genotype-phenotype mapping enables more rational design and prediction of effects of interventions, and AI starts to predict emerging phenomena. Proteins for catalysis are designed. Ethics and access to the technology start to shape its development and use."},"color":{"__typename":"Platform_Color","id":"6a9a0ba358e76338f2a563dc","name":"Terracotta","slug":"terracotta","value":"#D3623A"},"type":{"__typename":"Platform_HorizonType","id":"65c55ce79e947c438698a89b","name":"10-year horizon","slug":"10-year-horizon","years":10,"title":"10-year","subtitle":"horizon"},"embeds":{"citations":[]}},{"__typename":"Platform_Horizon","id":"65c55ce69e947c438698a879","name":"5.4.1 - 5-year horizon","slug":"5-4-1-5-year-horizon","intro":{"text":"Synthesis tools mature"},"description":{"text":"Speedy synthesis of longer pieces of DNA spanning hundreds of kilobases is achieved. Synthetic RNA/DNA devices for cell control begin to make an impact. AI is able to infer function from the structure of all biological molecules, changing how we design, alter and annotate genomes. Computational tools currently used in model organisms are readily adaptable for non-model organisms. Cell-free systems further accelerate design-build-test-learn cycles."},"color":{"__typename":"Platform_Color","id":"6a9a0ba358e76338f2a563dc","name":"Terracotta","slug":"terracotta","value":"#D3623A"},"type":{"__typename":"Platform_HorizonType","id":"65c55ce79e947c438698a89a","name":"5-year horizon","slug":"5-year-horizon","years":5,"title":"5-year","subtitle":"horizon"},"embeds":{"citations":[]}}],"indicatorValues":[{"id":"65c55cf49e947c438698aacb","value":"0.478","numericValue":0.478,"year":2024,"indicator":{"id":"65c55cf29e947c438698aa4d","name":"Anticipation Potential","title":null,"slug":"anticipation-potential","dataSetId":"ANTICIPATION_POTENTIAL","color":null}},{"id":"68edeaa9af9e6d6d6327118e","value":"0.520","numericValue":0.52,"year":2025,"indicator":{"id":"65c55cf29e947c438698aa4d","name":"Anticipation Potential","title":null,"slug":"anticipation-potential","dataSetId":"ANTICIPATION_POTENTIAL","color":null}}],"embeds":{"citations":[{"slug":"2025-05-5-1-8","url":"https://doi.org/10.1126/science.add8643","name":"CRISPR technology: A decade of genome editing is only the beginning","authors":[{"name":"J.Y. Wang and J.A. Doudna"}],"authorShowsEtAl":null,"edition":null,"publication":"Science","accessDate":null,"startPage":8643,"volume":379,"footnoteNumber":8,"year":null},{"slug":"2025-05-5-1-9","url":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-019-1192-5","name":"Total synthesis of Escherichia coli with a recoded genome","authors":[{"name":"J. Fredens et al."}],"authorShowsEtAl":null,"edition":null,"publication":"Nature","accessDate":null,"startPage":514,"volume":569,"footnoteNumber":9,"year":null},{"slug":"2025-05-5-1-10","url":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00339","name":"Synthetic Biology: Bottom-Up Assembly of Molecular Systems","authors":[{"name":"Stephan Hirschi et al."}],"authorShowsEtAl":null,"edition":null,"publication":"Chemical Reviews","accessDate":null,"startPage":16294,"volume":122,"footnoteNumber":10,"year":null},{"slug":"2025-05-5-1-11","url":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2022.810180","name":"Protein Splicing of Inteins: A Powerful Tool in Synthetic Biology","authors":[{"name":"H. Wang et al."}],"authorShowsEtAl":null,"edition":null,"publication":"Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology","accessDate":null,"startPage":null,"volume":10,"footnoteNumber":11,"year":null},{"slug":"2025-05-5-1-12","url":"https://doi.org/10.1080/07388551.2023.2208285","name":"Bacterial genome reduction for optimal chassis of synthetic biology: a review","authors":[{"name":"S. Ma et al."}],"authorShowsEtAl":null,"edition":null,"publication":"Critical Reviews in Biotechnology","accessDate":null,"startPage":660,"volume":44,"footnoteNumber":12,"year":null},{"slug":"2025-05-5-1-13","url":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2022.829717","name":"Construction of Environmental Synthetic Microbial Consortia: Based on Engineering and Ecological Principles","authors":[{"name":"Y. Liang et al."}],"authorShowsEtAl":null,"edition":null,"publication":"Frontiers in Microbiology","accessDate":null,"startPage":null,"volume":13,"footnoteNumber":13,"year":null},{"slug":"2025-05-5-1-14","url":"https://doi.org/10.1093/biolinnean/blac073","name":"Endless forms most beautiful 2.0: teleonomy and the bioengineering of chimaeric and synthetic organisms","authors":[{"name":"W.P. Clawson and M. Levin"}],"authorShowsEtAl":null,"edition":null,"publication":"Biological Journal of the Linnean Society","accessDate":null,"startPage":457,"volume":139,"footnoteNumber":14,"year":null},{"slug":"2025-05-5-1-15","url":"https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adi3621","name":"Open-endedness in synthetic biology: A route to continual innovation for biological design","authors":[{"name":"M. Stock and T.E. 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Cai"}],"authorShowsEtAl":null,"edition":null,"publication":"Nature Communications","accessDate":null,"startPage":1060,"volume":15,"footnoteNumber":17,"year":null},{"slug":"2025-05-5-1-18","url":"https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1424704112","name":"Intrinsic biocontainment: Multiplex genome safeguards combine transcriptional and recombinational control of essential yeast genes","authors":[{"name":"Y. Cai et al."}],"authorShowsEtAl":null,"edition":null,"publication":"PNAS","accessDate":null,"startPage":1803,"volume":112,"footnoteNumber":18,"year":null}],"imageAssets":[]}},{"id":"65c55d4f9e947c438698b6ad","name":"Manufacturing, industry and agriculture","path":"/sub-topics/manufacturing-industry-and-agriculture","outlineNumber":"5.1.2","slug":"manufacturing-industry-and-agriculture","__typename":"Platform_SubTopic","color":{"id":"6a9a0ba358e76338f2a563dc","name":"Terracotta","value":"#D3623A"},"topic":{"id":"65c55d599e947c438698b7c0","slug":"synthetic-biology-1","path":"/topics/synthetic-biology"},"intro":{"text":"The tools and products of synthetic biology have potential applications in manufacturing and many other industries, including farming. Much of this work is at an early stage and there are few commercial products as yet.[19](/citation/2025-05-5-1-19/) Key challenges include scaling up lab-based experiments in a commercially viable way[20](/citation/2025-05-5-1-20/) and controlling synthetic organisms and their interaction with their environment.[21](/citation/2025-05-5-1-21/)"},"description":{"text":"The most obvious potential is in chemistry and materials science, as microorganisms such as bacteria or yeast can be engineered to synthesise chemicals[22](/citation/2025-05-5-1-22/) and materials.[23](/citation/2025-05-5-1-23/) In effect, living cells are used as factories.[24](/citation/2025-05-5-1-24/) Thanks to catalytic enzymes, biological systems can often perform syntheses at lower temperatures and pressures than traditional chemical systems, saving energy and reducing greenhouse-gas emissions. There is untapped potential in the engineering of microbial communities and multicellularity, rather than single cells, for these purposes.[25](/citation/2025-05-5-1-25/)\n\nAs well as purely biological systems, synthetic biology may be integrated with other forms of technology. For instance, there is growing interest in synthelectronics, which fuses electronics and synthetic biology.[26](/citation/2025-05-5-1-26/) Living photovoltaic solar cells[27](/citation/2025-05-5-1-27/) are one possible application.[28](/citation/2025-05-5-1-28/)\n\nAn area of increasing interest is the use of synthetic biology to produce food and food ingredients. Examples of this include the use of microbial cells to produce specific molecules such as vitamins, the use of plant cells and biomass to make plant-based meat alternatives, or the use of animal cells to make cultivated meat.[29](/citation/2025-05-5-1-29/)\n\nFinally, many actors are attempting to apply synthetic biology to agriculture. For instance, it may be possible to re-engineer photosynthesis, the process by which green plants use sunlight to make sugars from carbon dioxide. More efficient photosynthesis could lead to increased crop yields.[30](/citation/2025-05-5-1-30/) In the longer term, it may also be possible to engineer the fates of plant cells, optimising the morphology of the plants for new environments.[31](/citation/2025-05-5-1-31/)\n"},"anticipationScores":{"text":"The Anticipation Potential of a research field is determined by the capacity for impactful action in the present, considering possible future transformative breakthroughs in a field over a 25-year outlook. A field with a high Anticipation Potential, therefore, combines the potential range of future transformative possibilities engendered by a research area with a wide field of opportunities for action in the present. We asked researchers in the field to anticipate: \n\n1. The *uncertainty* related to future science breakthroughs in the field\n2. The *transformative* *effect* anticipated breakthroughs may have on research and society\n3. The *scope for action* in the present in relation to anticipated breakthroughs. \n\nThis chart represents a summary of their responses to each of these elements, which when combined, provide the *Anticipation Potential* for the topic. See [methodology](/science-anticipation/methodology) for more information."},"anticipationScoresImage":{"id":"68e8959363d1c853e9788beb","image":{"id":"image_gesda-platform/image-asset/5-4-2-sub-anti-2026_image__5.4.2_sub_anti_2026_dqh9sm","url":"https://res.cloudinary.com/shapeable/image/upload/v1760073090/gesda-platform/image-asset/5-4-2-sub-anti-2026_image__5.4.2_sub_anti_2026_dqh9sm.webp","url2x":null,"width":1200,"height":1200}},"horizons":[{"__typename":"Platform_Horizon","id":"65c55ce69e947c438698a87e","name":"5.4.2 - 25-year horizon","slug":"5-4-2-25-year-horizon","intro":{"text":"Synthetic biology is integrated into other technologies"},"description":{"text":"Research achieves widespread integration of synthetic biology into other technologies such as electronics. Generic, customisable systems for culturing engineered microorganisms for chemical synthesis begin to appear. Biological catalysis outperforms traditional pure chemistry approaches on efficiency or price. Thirty per cent of materials are produced biologically. Engineered crop plants are able to resist multiple stressors associated with extreme environments, based on multiple genomic changes. New flavours for food not found in nature are designed, based on detailed mapping of flavour components and their chemical or genetic underpinnings. Entirely new plants are grown."},"color":{"__typename":"Platform_Color","id":"6a9a0ba358e76338f2a563dc","name":"Terracotta","slug":"terracotta","value":"#D3623A"},"type":{"__typename":"Platform_HorizonType","id":"65c55ce79e947c438698a89c","name":"25-year horizon","slug":"25-year-horizon","years":25,"title":"25-year","subtitle":"horizon"},"embeds":{"citations":[]}},{"__typename":"Platform_Horizon","id":"65c55ce69e947c438698a87d","name":"5.4.2 - 10-year horizon","slug":"5-4-2-10-year-horizon","intro":{"text":"Rational design comes of age"},"description":{"text":"Rational design of tissues for chemical and materials synthesis becomes the norm. More efficient photosynthesis is achieved in genome-edited crop plants which are fertilised sustainably and monitored using biosensors. Synthetic systems, including cell-free systems, start to be used for manufacturing many products at scale. New feedstocks for manufacturing, including waste and simple carbon molecules like carbon dioxide, are available. Research improves culturing of engineered cells for food production, perhaps with synthesis pathways for essential nutrients such as vitamins. Cell-based manufacture becomes routine. New approaches for distributed manufacturing mature."},"color":{"__typename":"Platform_Color","id":"6a9a0ba358e76338f2a563dc","name":"Terracotta","slug":"terracotta","value":"#D3623A"},"type":{"__typename":"Platform_HorizonType","id":"65c55ce79e947c438698a89b","name":"10-year horizon","slug":"10-year-horizon","years":10,"title":"10-year","subtitle":"horizon"},"embeds":{"citations":[]}},{"__typename":"Platform_Horizon","id":"65c55ce69e947c438698a87c","name":"5.4.2 - 5-year horizon","slug":"5-4-2-5-year-horizon","intro":{"text":"Engineering starts to scale"},"description":{"text":"Multiple engineered cell lines are used to synthesise chemical products. Increasingly systematised methods are available for engineering cellular factories. New bioreactors specialised for products like cultured meat, with AI control systems to maximise efficiency and scalability, enable smooth transitions from lab-scale to industrial-scale. New growth media for animal cells are achieved, perhaps derived from microbes. Transgenic crops are made resistant to certain stressors, based on changes to corresponding pathways."},"color":{"__typename":"Platform_Color","id":"6a9a0ba358e76338f2a563dc","name":"Terracotta","slug":"terracotta","value":"#D3623A"},"type":{"__typename":"Platform_HorizonType","id":"65c55ce79e947c438698a89a","name":"5-year horizon","slug":"5-year-horizon","years":5,"title":"5-year","subtitle":"horizon"},"embeds":{"citations":[]}}],"indicatorValues":[{"id":"65c55cf49e947c438698ab03","value":"0.562","numericValue":0.562,"year":2024,"indicator":{"id":"65c55cf29e947c438698aa4d","name":"Anticipation Potential","title":null,"slug":"anticipation-potential","dataSetId":"ANTICIPATION_POTENTIAL","color":null}},{"id":"68edeadaaf9e6d6d6327119f","value":"0.560","numericValue":0.56,"year":2025,"indicator":{"id":"65c55cf29e947c438698aa4d","name":"Anticipation Potential","title":null,"slug":"anticipation-potential","dataSetId":"ANTICIPATION_POTENTIAL","color":null}}],"embeds":{"citations":[{"slug":"2025-05-5-1-19","url":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-21740-0","name":"Applications, challenges, and needs for employing synthetic biology beyond the lab","authors":[{"name":"S.M. 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Levin"}],"authorShowsEtAl":null,"edition":null,"publication":"Nature Reviews Bioengineering","accessDate":null,"startPage":46,"volume":1,"footnoteNumber":25,"year":null},{"slug":"2025-05-5-1-26","url":"https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202400110","name":"Living Synthelectronics: A New Era for Bioelectronics Powered by Synthetic Biology","authors":[{"name":"J. Sun et al."}],"authorShowsEtAl":null,"edition":null,"publication":"Advanced Materials","accessDate":null,"startPage":2400110,"volume":36,"footnoteNumber":26,"year":null},{"slug":"2025-05-5-1-27","url":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-33358-x","name":"A miniaturized bionic ocean-battery mimicking the structure of marine microbial ecosystems","authors":[{"name":"H. Zhu et al."}],"authorShowsEtAl":null,"edition":null,"publication":"Nature Communications","accessDate":null,"startPage":5608,"volume":13,"footnoteNumber":27,"year":null},{"slug":"2025-05-5-1-28","url":"https://doi.org/10.1039/C7EE00282C","name":"A synthetic biology approach to engineering living photovoltaics","authors":[{"name":"N. Schuergers et al."}],"authorShowsEtAl":null,"edition":null,"publication":"Energy & Environmental Science","accessDate":null,"startPage":1102,"volume":10,"footnoteNumber":28,"year":null},{"slug":"2025-05-5-1-29","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fufo.2021.100025","name":"Synthetic biology for future food: Research progress and future directions","authors":[{"name":"X. 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Tansley et al."}],"authorShowsEtAl":null,"edition":null,"publication":"ACS Synthetic Biology","accessDate":null,"startPage":998,"volume":13,"footnoteNumber":31,"year":null}],"imageAssets":[]}},{"id":"65c55d4f9e947c438698b6b0","name":"Medicine and health","path":"/sub-topics/medicine-and-health","outlineNumber":"5.1.3","slug":"medicine-and-health","__typename":"Platform_SubTopic","color":{"id":"6a9a0ba358e76338f2a563dc","name":"Terracotta","value":"#D3623A"},"topic":{"id":"65c55d599e947c438698b7c0","slug":"synthetic-biology-1","path":"/topics/synthetic-biology"},"intro":{"text":"Synthetic biology is already being applied to some areas of medicine, and there is considerable potential to expand its use.[32](/citation/2025-05-5-1-32/) Many medicines are either sourced directly from living organisms or based on chemicals produced in nature. Synthetic biology has the potential to find many new candidate drugs[33](/citation/2025-05-5-1-33/) and to produce medicines in cellular factories.[34](/citation/2025-05-5-1-34/) Notably, the first synthetic vaccines have been made and shown to be effective.[35](/citation/2025-05-5-1-35/)"},"description":{"text":"It is theoretically possible to use genome editing to treat genetic diseases.[36](/citation/2025-05-5-1-36/) Inherited diseases are a particularly tempting target. A number of technologies exist for precision genome editing of human cells,[37](/citation/2025-05-5-1-37/) and some in vivo experiments targeting conditions like mucopolysaccharidosis have already been conducted.[38](/citation/2025-05-5-1-38/) However, genome editing’s potential goes beyond genetic conditions. For instance, CRISPR-Cas may be used to treat viral infections by targeting the virus’s genome within human cells.[39](/citation/2025-05-5-1-39/) There is also potential for improving cancer treatments,[40](/citation/2025-05-5-1-40/) such as by engineering immune cells to kill tumours.[41](/citation/2025-05-5-1-41/) To minimise the risk of off-target effects, improved maps of human genetic diversity are a prerequisite for such therapies.[42](/citation/2025-05-5-1-42/)\n\nTherapies based on synthetic cells[43](/citation/2025-05-5-1-43/) have shown promise for certain hard-to-treat conditions such as spinal muscular atrophy.[44](/citation/2025-05-5-1-44/) In some cases,[45](/citation/2025-05-5-1-45/) bacteria act as “living drugs”.[46](/citation/2025-05-5-1-46/) Controlling such cells remains a challenge,[47](/citation/2025-05-5-1-47/) but programmable synthetic receptor systems may offer a means of doing so.[48](/citation/2025-05-5-1-48/)There have also been preliminary investigations into the benefits of modifying the skin microbiome.[49](/citation/2025-05-5-1-49/) Going beyond cells, engineered tissues have potential as drug-delivery systems,[50](/citation/2025-05-5-1-50/) while synthetic transplant organs and induced tissue regeneration remain distant but tantalising possibilities.[51](/citation/2025-05-5-1-51/)"},"anticipationScores":{"text":"The Anticipation Potential of a research field is determined by the capacity for impactful action in the present, considering possible future transformative breakthroughs in a field over a 25-year outlook. A field with a high Anticipation Potential, therefore, combines the potential range of future transformative possibilities engendered by a research area with a wide field of opportunities for action in the present. We asked researchers in the field to anticipate: \n\n1. The *uncertainty* related to future science breakthroughs in the field\n2. The *transformative* *effect* anticipated breakthroughs may have on research and society\n3. The *scope for action* in the present in relation to anticipated breakthroughs. \n\nThis chart represents a summary of their responses to each of these elements, which when combined, provide the *Anticipation Potential* for the topic. See [methodology](/science-anticipation/methodology) for more information."},"anticipationScoresImage":{"id":"68e89d2263d1c853e9788c69","image":{"id":"image_gesda-platform/image-asset/5-4-3-sub-anti-2026_image__5.4.3_sub_anti_2026_yiippm","url":"https://res.cloudinary.com/shapeable/image/upload/v1760075019/gesda-platform/image-asset/5-4-3-sub-anti-2026_image__5.4.3_sub_anti_2026_yiippm.webp","url2x":null,"width":1200,"height":1200}},"horizons":[{"__typename":"Platform_Horizon","id":"65c55ce69e947c438698a881","name":"5.4.3 - 25-year horizon","slug":"5-4-3-25-year-horizon","intro":{"text":"Organ production is programmable"},"description":{"text":"Programmable organ production from stem cells for human transplants becomes possible, along with inducible tissue regeneration for a limited set of organs. Whole-organ engineering begins to happen. Cellular devices can both diagnose and treat conditions, for instance by synthesising a treatment. Long-lasting microbiome therapeutics that can release a drug steadily eliminate the need to take pills. Engineered phage therapies for antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections become available. Synthetic-biology approaches to public health are applied, providing clean water, nutrition and improved air quality."},"color":{"__typename":"Platform_Color","id":"6a9a0ba358e76338f2a563dc","name":"Terracotta","slug":"terracotta","value":"#D3623A"},"type":{"__typename":"Platform_HorizonType","id":"65c55ce79e947c438698a89c","name":"25-year horizon","slug":"25-year-horizon","years":25,"title":"25-year","subtitle":"horizon"},"embeds":{"citations":[]}},{"__typename":"Platform_Horizon","id":"65c55ce69e947c438698a880","name":"5.4.3 - 10-year horizon","slug":"5-4-3-10-year-horizon","intro":{"text":"Synthetic-cell therapies are customisable"},"description":{"text":"Generic and customisable systems can create synthetic-cell therapies. Cellular factories allow high-throughput production of new therapeutics. Improved understanding of microbiome-host relationships enables microbiomes to be used for therapy. Cellular sensors, some integrated with electronic systems, monitor fluctuating body systems such as blood sugar. A new base-editing tool is discovered which opens up new therapeutic strategies. Cell-free biosensors are used to assess water quality.[52](/citation/2025-05-5-1-52/),[53](/citation/2025-05-5-1-53/)"},"color":{"__typename":"Platform_Color","id":"6a9a0ba358e76338f2a563dc","name":"Terracotta","slug":"terracotta","value":"#D3623A"},"type":{"__typename":"Platform_HorizonType","id":"65c55ce79e947c438698a89b","name":"10-year horizon","slug":"10-year-horizon","years":10,"title":"10-year","subtitle":"horizon"},"embeds":{"citations":[{"slug":"2025-05-5-1-52","url":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-020-0571-7","name":"Cell-free biosensors for rapid detection of water contaminants","authors":[{"id":"691a7a1ec0043bba84a9e95d","name":"J.K. Jung et al."}],"authorShowsEtAl":null,"edition":null,"publication":"Nat Biotechnol","accessDate":null,"startPage":1451,"volume":38,"footnoteNumber":52,"year":null},{"slug":"2025-05-5-1-53","url":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41545-023-00221-5","name":"The accuracy and usability of point-of-use fluoride biosensors in rural Kenya","authors":[{"id":"691a7a1ec0043bba84a9e961","name":"W. Thavarajah et al."}],"authorShowsEtAl":null,"edition":null,"publication":"npj Clean Water","accessDate":null,"startPage":5,"volume":6,"footnoteNumber":53,"year":null}]}},{"__typename":"Platform_Horizon","id":"65c55ce69e947c438698a87f","name":"5.4.3 - 5-year horizon","slug":"5-4-3-5-year-horizon","intro":{"text":"Human cells and genomes are re-engineered through AI"},"description":{"text":"AI guides the re-engineering of human cells and genomes. The human pangenome is used to predict unwanted side effects of genome edits. Cell-based diagnostic systems can be implanted into the human body, and rational design of binding molecules such as antibodies leads to new, targeted treatments. More effective probiotics and symbiotics are available. Many new cell therapies such as CAR T-cell and cancer therapeutics begin to appear, along with rapid design and production of new RNA-based easily programmable vaccines, including variants for emerging strains."},"color":{"__typename":"Platform_Color","id":"6a9a0ba358e76338f2a563dc","name":"Terracotta","slug":"terracotta","value":"#D3623A"},"type":{"__typename":"Platform_HorizonType","id":"65c55ce79e947c438698a89a","name":"5-year horizon","slug":"5-year-horizon","years":5,"title":"5-year","subtitle":"horizon"},"embeds":{"citations":[]}}],"indicatorValues":[{"id":"65c55cf49e947c438698ab05","value":"0.559","numericValue":0.559,"year":2024,"indicator":{"id":"65c55cf29e947c438698aa4d","name":"Anticipation Potential","title":null,"slug":"anticipation-potential","dataSetId":"ANTICIPATION_POTENTIAL","color":null}},{"id":"68edeb01af9e6d6d632711b0","value":"0.550","numericValue":0.55,"year":2025,"indicator":{"id":"65c55cf29e947c438698aa4d","name":"Anticipation Potential","title":null,"slug":"anticipation-potential","dataSetId":"ANTICIPATION_POTENTIAL","color":null}}],"embeds":{"citations":[{"slug":"2025-05-5-1-32","url":"https://doi.org/10.51594/estj.v5i4.1041","name":"Synthetic biology and its potential in U.S. medical therapeutics: A comprehensive review: Exploring the cutting-edge intersections of biology and engineering in drug development and treatments","authors":[{"name":"F. 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Algae and other cellular factories could be used to produce renewable fuels, offering a less land-intensive alternative to biofuels.[54](/citation/2025-05-5-1-54/) Notably, some early work has been done on engineering microbes to produce hydrogen.[55](/citation/2025-05-5-1-55/)Unlike existing methods of hydrogen manufacture, this would be low- or zero-carbon.[56](/citation/2025-05-5-1-56/)Similarly, microbes are being engineered for enhanced carbon capture, potentially removing carbon dioxide from the air.[57](/citation/2025-05-5-1-57/)\n\nThe flow of pollutants into the environment may be reduced through the use of synthetic biology. For instance, chemical pesticides may be partially replaced by biotechnologies such as RNA interference for pest control or by engineering the pests themselves — using gene drives, for example.[58](/citation/2025-05-5-1-58/) Where pollutants are already present, engineered microbes may speed up their degradation.[59](/citation/2025-05-5-1-59/)\n\nEndangered species and ecosystems may be made more robust through synthetic biology.[60](/citation/2025-05-5-1-60/)[56] Genome editing may be used to monitor threatened species or to identify the species making up harmful algal blooms.[61](/citation/2025-05-5-1-61/) More radically, genome editors could enhance adaptive traits, for instance by making coral holobionts more tolerant of higher temperatures to protect coral reefs from climate change.[62](/citation/2025-05-5-1-62/) Any such endeavours would need a reliable understanding of the ecosystems involved: in particular, it is important to gain a better understanding of microbial ecosystems, which are also threatened but are understudied.[63](/citation/2025-05-5-1-63/)"},"anticipationScores":{"text":"The Anticipation Potential of a research field is determined by the capacity for impactful action in the present, considering possible future transformative breakthroughs in a field over a 25-year outlook. A field with a high Anticipation Potential, therefore, combines the potential range of future transformative possibilities engendered by a research area with a wide field of opportunities for action in the present. We asked researchers in the field to anticipate: \n\n1. The *uncertainty* related to future science breakthroughs in the field\n2. The *transformative* *effect* anticipated breakthroughs may have on research and society\n3. The *scope for action* in the present in relation to anticipated breakthroughs. \n\nThis chart represents a summary of their responses to each of these elements, which when combined, provide the *Anticipation Potential* for the topic. See [methodology](/science-anticipation/methodology) for more information."},"anticipationScoresImage":{"id":"68e89b4a63d1c853e9788c42","image":{"id":"image_gesda-platform/image-asset/5-4-4-sub-anti-2026_image__5.4.4_sub_anti_2026_fo2atb","url":"https://res.cloudinary.com/shapeable/image/upload/v1760074557/gesda-platform/image-asset/5-4-4-sub-anti-2026_image__5.4.4_sub_anti_2026_fo2atb.webp","url2x":null,"width":1200,"height":1200}},"horizons":[{"__typename":"Platform_Horizon","id":"65c55ce69e947c438698a884","name":"5.4.4 - 25-year horizon","slug":"5-4-4-25-year-horizon","intro":{"text":"Biodiversity begins to be restored through engineering"},"description":{"text":"Rational ecosystem engineering is used for biodiversity restoration. Engineered bacteria are able to achieve large-scale green hydrogen production. 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