Synthetic Biology: Engineering Biological Systems

This lecture introduces synthetic biology as an emerging engineering discipline dedicated to biologically engineered solutions for global challenges. It covers the goal of turning biology into an engineering discipline, the difference between synthetic and 'normal' biology, and the promise of synthetic biology in various fields. The lecture discusses the design of bio-computing systems, different perspectives of a cell, and the concept of biodesign within a cellular context. It also explores the challenges of decoupling and orthogonal systems in engineered biological systems, as well as the ethical implications and applications of synthetic biology in health and society.