Special Feature: Opportunities in Synthetic Biology
October 17, 2008
The concept of synthesizing life has been around for quite a while in scientific--and science fiction--literature, but only in the past 5 years have rapid advances in DNA synthesis techniques allowed the field to crystallize. As a consequence of its promise for elucidating basic science and its huge potential for meeting pressing human needs, the nascent field is growing as universities, funding agencies, and national governments pour money into new research centers, research networks, and conferences.
The field offers many opportunities for early-career scientists--as long as they are prepared to abandon doctrine for a more open-minded approach to doing science. The field is so new that its definition is not yet set in stone. Plenty of space remains for biologists, engineers, chemists, physicists, mathematicians, computer scientists--even philosophers--to help define the field. In synthetic biology you can still be a pioneer.
So where exactly are the opportunities, and how do you embark? Getting Ready for Synthetic Biology provides an overview of the current state of the field and some tips on how to gain the skills you'll need.
Although the range of projects tackled under the umbrella of synthetic biology is vast, dedicated training programs remain rare, so most--or at least many--scientists find their own way in. In A Multidisciplinary Approach to Life a microbiologist, a mechanical engineer, and a chemist tell Science Careers how they got into the field.
In our Science Careers podcast (mp3), produced by Contributing Editor Kate Travis, you can hear firsthand from three synthetic biologists: a mechanical engineer who participated in the international Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition, a computer scientist at Nottingham University in the United Kingdom, and a senior biologist at the J. Craig Venter Institute in Rockville, Maryland.
Finally, to complete this introduction to synthetic biology, here's a (nonexhaustive) list of further resources:
Elisabeth Pain is contributing editor for South and West Europe. | |
10.1126/science.caredit.a0800151 |
