synthetic-biology

## What I do - Design and construct new biological parts - Engineer metabolic pathways - Create synthetic gene circuits - Develop biosensors and therapeutics - Program cells with new functions - Apply design-build-test-learn cycles ## When to use me - When engineering new biological functions - When designing gene circuits - When creating metabolic pathways - When developing biosensors - When programming cells - When building synthetic organisms ## Key Concepts ### Design Principles **Standardization** - BioBricks: Standardized parts - RFC standards: Assembly rules - SBOL: Data exchange format ### Genetic Circuits ```python # Example: Toggle switch design class ToggleSwitch: """ Bistable genetic switch. """ def __init__(self): self.components = { 'promoter1': 'Repressor 1', 'promoter2': 'Repressor 2', 'repressor1': 'Inhibits promoter2', 'repressor2': 'Inhibits promoter1' } def states(self): return { 'state_A': 'Repressor1 ON, Repressor2 OFF', 'state_B': 'Repressor1 OFF, Repressor2 ON' } # Circuit types circuit_types = { 'inverter': 'NOT gate', 'amplifier': 'Signal enhancement', 'oscillator': 'Repressible gene expression', 'memory': 'State persistence', 'logic_gates': 'AND, OR, NAND, NOR' } ``` ### Metabolic Engineering - Pathway design - Cofactor balancing - Flux optimization - Enzyme engineering - Compartmentalization ### Applications - Biofuels production - Pharmaceutical synthesis - Bioremediation - Biosensors - Therapeutic cells - Living materials