Bioelectrochemical system (BES) is a microbial metabolism based innovative technology that offers sustainable energy solution. Electroactive microbes possess unique cellular features for direct and indirect extracellular electron transfer (EET) to electrodes in BES. Genetic engineering paves the path to augment low EET rate and limited metabolic capacity of native electroactive microbes; or to confer EET ability onto non-electroactive microbes. A critical analysis of such gene modification strategies is required to explore its role in establishing efficient and promising BES. In this review, the five major types of BES are briefly discussed based upon its downstream application. Further, the EET mechanisms of model electroactive microbes are summarized with their gene modification targets; for enhancing EET and metabolic capacity. The key findings of this review are: cytochromes, pilin and electron shuttles are the major gene targets for improving EET rate, and metabolic genes are targeted for H₂ and valuable product synthesis. BES application where genetic engineering strategies have been less explored and holds potential have been identified. Finally, the critical review and the future perspective of BES are summarized.

生物电化学系统 (BES) 是一种基于微生物代谢的创新技术，可提供可持续的能源解决方案。电活性微生物具有独特的细胞特征，可以直接和间接地将细胞外电子转移 (EET) 转移到 BES 中的电极。基因工程为增加天然电活性微生物的低 EET 率和有限的代谢能力铺平了道路；或赋予非电活性微生物 EET 能力。需要对此类基因修饰策略进行批判性分析，以探索其在建立高效且有前景的 BES 中的作用。在这篇综述中，根据其下游应用简要讨论了五种主要类型的 BES。此外，还总结了模型电活性微生物的 EET 机制及其基因修饰目标；用于增强 EET 和代谢能力。₂、有价值的产品合成。已经确定了基因工程策略较少探索并具有潜力的 BES 应用。最后，总结了 BES 的批判性审查和未来展望。