Decoding Biological Systems Through Synthetic Biology

Biological systems have the powerful ability to perform precise chemical transformations, interact with molecules both organic and inorganic, perform computations, self-replicate, heal, evolve, and construct macroscopic organisms. Thus, the potential impact of synthetic biology is significant, as these capabilities can be harnessed for novel applications by engineering everything from biological molecules to multicellular assemblies.

The GRS, like the GRC that directly follows, will focus on three areas fueling the advance of the field. First, emerging tools are making it easier to engineer biology and expanding the scope of what can be engineered, such as non-model organisms. Second, qualitative insights and quantitative models of how existing biological systems operate provide design principles for more predictive engineering. Third, work to develop new applications in synthetic biology, where often particular details of context or final use case matter, is revealing new areas of impact beyond medicine, including food and energy. The GRS will provide a forum for future leaders in the field to engage with these topics in an informal setting dedicated to fostering collaboration across disciplines and nationalities.