Mammalian Synthetic Biology

Synthetic biology has pioneered transformative approaches that are affecting how scientists tackle key questions in mammalian cell biology. Synthetic biology techniques have wide-ranging applicability and commonly make use of genetic devices, or collections of genetic elements encoding particular functions, for probing key cellular mechanisms. Early success focused on engineered transcription-based regulatory systems primarily in bacteria. More recently, new endeavors have shifted to mammalian gene regulatory processes to allow flexible, precise, and comprehensive control over gene expression and cellular development. Novel and more complex genetic devices have been used to probe cellular mechanisms, including alternative splicing, RNAi, and epigenetics.