Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

Volume 27 Issue 12, December 2009

Artwork drawn by participants at an International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM ) competition, where undergraduates design, build and test simple biological systems made from standard, interchangeable biological parts (p.1099). This issue focuses on the emerging field of synthetic biology. Credits: Kim Caesar, based on a photograph provided by David Appleyard/iGEM.

Editorial

  • The ability to plug and play synthetic genes into minimized genomes promises to transform biological engineering.

    Editorial

    Advertisement

Top of page ⤴

News

Top of page ⤴

News Feature

  • Defining an emerging field can be challenging. Nature Biotechnology asked 20 experts for their views on the term 'synthetic biology'.

    News Feature
  • Biofuels top the list of products for many biotech companies using advanced biological engineering. Cormac Sheridan examines the diverse commercial paths being taken to reach this goal.

    • Cormac Sheridan
    News Feature
  • Do it yourself 'biohackers' want to break down institutional barriers and bring science to the people. But good intentions are up against the hard realities of doing science. Joe Alper reports, with additional reporting by Laura DeFrancesco.

    • Joe Alper
    News Feature
Top of page ⤴

Correspondence

Top of page ⤴

Commentary

  • Synthetic biology should look to other industries' models for ownership and open sharing.

    • Joachim Henkel
    • Stephen M Maurer
    Commentary
  • Innovative community efforts in academia and non-profits to engage student researchers, encourage open sharing of DNA constructs and new methodology as well as build a Registry of Standardized Biological Parts have been central to the emergence of synthetic biology.

    • Christina D Smolke
    Commentary
  • Two prominent ethicists provide their views on the ethical debates surrounding synthetic biology.

    • Nigel M de S Cameron
    • Arthur Caplan
    Commentary
  • The emergence of synthetic biology, and off-shoots such as DIYbio, make the need for a rigorous, sustained and mature approach for assessing, and preparing for, the broad range of associated dangers and risks all the more pressing.

    • Gaymon Bennett
    • Nils Gilman
    • Paul Rabinow
    Commentary
Top of page ⤴

Feature

  • As the market for DNA on demand continues to grow, increases in the scale and efficiency of new genome engineering approaches promise to accelerate product discovery and even open up new commercial opportunities.

    • Mike May
    Feature
  • J. Craig Venter reflects on an effort spanning decades to create a living cell from chemically synthesized building blocks.

    • Andrew Marshall
    Feature
Top of page ⤴

Patents

Top of page ⤴

News & Views

  • Complete maps of DNA methylation in human cells provide insight into the epigenetic regulation of pluripotency.

    • Joseph F Costello
    • Martin Krzywinski
    • Marco A Marra
    News & Views
  • Metabolite arrays sample the metabolic state of bacteria and complex microbial communities while aiding enzyme discovery.

    • Don Cowan
    • Marla Tuffin
    News & Views
Top of page ⤴

Research Highlights

Top of page ⤴

Primer

Top of page ⤴

Perspective

Top of page ⤴

Review Article

Top of page ⤴

Brief Communication

  • Patwardhan et al. describe a high-throughput approach for analyzing at single-nucleotide resolution the DNA regulatory sequences that control gene expression. Characterizing these sequences in a massively parallel manner will be useful for deciphering the regulatory logic of the cell and for synthetic biology.

    • Rupali P Patwardhan
    • Choli Lee
    • Jay Shendure
    Brief Communication
Top of page ⤴

Letter

Top of page ⤴

Careers and Recruitment

  • International exchange programs for tech transfer aim to advance the field and build bridges.

    • Stefano Tonzani
    Careers and Recruitment
  • Careers and Recruitment
Top of page ⤴

Focus

  • The latest iteration of genetic engineering offers the prospect of the design and construction of new life forms from biological parts, devices and systems. Although still in its infancy, this focus discusses some of the progress in synthetic biology toward practical applications.

    Focus
Top of page ⤴

Search

Quick links