Technologies for biosystems engineering

Abstract

The rising knowledge for a variety of model organisms about chromosome compositions, gene regulation and molecular interactions which influence cell development and biological systems behavior drives an engineering effort to design and construct ever more complex novel molecular or cellular functions and behaviors. As molecular functions are encoded on DNA level, engineering of new and complex systems starts with the engineering of its encoding DNA. Although methods for genetic engineering are available since decades, their focus was the modification of rather small systems, such as cloning or modifying single genes. Therefore, the engineering of complex biological systems on DNA level, involving multiple genes up to multiple pathways or even entire genomes, requires revisiting the general usefulness of available methods and their potential for scalability. Here we review available methods and their applicability for biosystems engineering approaches as well as recent technological advances which expand the toolbox for understanding and engineering complex biological systems with novel traits.