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Synthetic biology in various cellular and molecular fields: applications, limitations, and perspective

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Abstract

Synthetic biology breakthroughs have facilitated genetic circuit engineering to program cells through novel biological functions, dynamic gene expressions, as well as logic controls. SynBio can also participate in the rapid development of new treatments required for the human lifestyle. Moreover, these technologies are applied in the development of innovative therapeutic, diagnostic, as well as discovery-related methods within a wide range of cellular and molecular applications. In the present review study, SynBio applications in various cellular and molecular fields such as novel strategies for cancer therapy, biosensing, metabolic engineering, protein engineering, and tissue engineering were highlighted and summarized. The major safety and regulatory concerns about synthetic biology will be the environmental release, legal concerns, and risks of the engineered organisms. The final sections focused on limitations to SynBio.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran

    Mohsen Safaei

  2. Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran

    Gholam-Reza Mobini

  3. Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

    Ardavan Abiri

  4. Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Advanced Technologies, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran

    Ali Shojaeian

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  1. Mohsen Safaei
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  2. Gholam-Reza Mobini
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  3. Ardavan Abiri
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  4. Ali Shojaeian
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All authors collected and analyzed relevant literature, then drafted the manuscript, and critically revised the manuscript for content, finally read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Ali Shojaeian.

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Safaei, M., Mobini, GR., Abiri, A. et al. Synthetic biology in various cellular and molecular fields: applications, limitations, and perspective. Mol Biol Rep 47, 6207–6216 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-020-05565-6

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