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A quick briefing in five—or a fifty-minute deeper dive
In this edition:
Synthetic biology
What do you get when you combine genetic engineering with big data analytics? A new technology for disruptive innovation.
Threat
Opportunity
Opportunity
“
The capabilities of synthetic biology are getting us to the point where we can start imagining and effecting ways to create real impact, such as more nutritious crops that thrive with less water, land, and energy.”
—
David Berry, general partner, Flagship Ventures
Upside and down
Synthetic biology has the potential to disrupt fields as varied as medicine, oil, and agriculture—if humanity can manage the very real dangers involved.
Interview
Exploring the disruptive potential of synthetic biology
Dive deeper
Number of synthetic-biology start-ups (as of Feb 2017, not exhaustive)
3
Software
4
Agriculture
Investors rush in
Consumer products
4
4
Biofuels
Potential misuses haven’t prevented start-up funding from surpassing $1 billion for the first time in 2016, targeting a wide range of industries.
DNA/RNA synthesis
5
Organismengineering
8
Industrialchemicals
11
Food and beverage
13
15
Healthcare
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Healthcare
Newly potent antimalarial compounds and antibiotics
Energy
Engineered bacteria that converts atmospheric CO into fuel
2
Beyond the hype?
Synthetic biology could provide a platform for disruptive innovation and growth. Possible applications include:
Industry
New, less polluting industrial ingredients for synthetic rubber and textiles
Singularity Hub
The synthetic biology era is here—How we can make the most of it
Dive deeper
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The synthetic biology era is here—How we can make the most of it
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