Synthetic biology for sustainability

Synthetic biology is one of the most promising fields of research for the 21st century. It offers powerful ways to build the global economy, manufacture sustainable materials, and address climate change. However, current access to biotechnology breakthroughs is unequal, largely due to bottlenecks in infrastructure and education. Here, I describe our efforts to re-think the way we engineer biology using cell-free systems to address these bottlenecks. In one example, we show the ability to accelerate the production of carbon-negative platform chemicals. In another, we integrate cell-free systems with AI to engineer new to nature biosynthetic pathways for above ground carbon capture. Looking forward, advances in engineering tools and new knowledge underpinning the fundamental science of living matter will ensure that biochemical engineering helps solve humanity’s most pressing challenges.