Synthetic biology is a new field of biological research that integrates science and engineering, providing a forward engineering research idea and methodology for the analysis of life phenomena and their movement laws by adopting a “bottom-up” synthetic strategy. It has great potential for application and development in economic and social development. The current DNA synthesis and systems biology technologies have made it possible to design, synthesize and assemble complex genetic circuits in living systems, and have been applied in the production of bio-based chemicals, biofuels, pharmaceutical intermediates and health care products, environmental protection, and other fields.
Essentially, it is the continuous advances in molecular biology, information technology, and nanotechnology since the middle 20th century that have laid the foundation for the cross and integration of biology and engineering.
In the mid-to-late 20th century, recombinant gene technology was born and applied in genetic breeding and other fields; as safety problems of laboratory research on pathogenic microorganisms occurred, it not only triggered the scientific and technological community’s concern about biosafety, but also promoted the establishment of a series of regulatory norms and measures. Since the 21st century, the development of synthetic biology has brought new solutions to the fields of resource, energy, health, and environment, while posing new challenges to biosafety governance due to the biosafety-related uncertainties and risks in its technology, R&D and application.
