Synthetic biology is an emerging discipline focused on engineering biological parts and pathways that enable living systems to perform new and useful functions. Research in synthetic biology involves engineered gene regulatory mechanisms and networks, engineered signaling pathways, metabolic engineering, and engineered biological molecules such as proteins and nucleic acids. Applications include new tools to study existing biological systems, novel diagnostics and therapeutics, chemical synthesis, and the engineering of novel strains for industrial processes.
CSB research takes place in multiple departments across campus and involves engineered gene regulatory mechanisms and networks, engineered signaling pathways, metabolic engineering, and engineered biological molecules such as proteins and nucleic acids. CSB researchers are developing new tools to study existing biological systems, novel diagnostics and therapeutics, cellular platforms for chemical synthesis, and new strains for industrial processes.