Synthetic biology: from iGEM to the artificial cell

Abstract

Synthetic biology aims at the design and construction of biological devices and systems for useful purposes. From an ideal engineering perspective synthetic biology works from rational design made through a few conceptual pil- lars, namely abstraction, standardization and modularity. Nevertheless, the com- bination of our still fragmentary biological knowledge and the messy nature of biological devices are major challenges for engineering life in a predictive manner. It is urgent to build bridges between different disciplines, from biology to engineer and back, to pursue this extraordinary goal of making life.