Established in January 2019, the Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics adopts the “bottom-up” engineering-design concept. It aims to accurately design, edit, and synthesize an organism’s genome to eventually customize and create artificial living systems. The effort has the potential to fundamentally change traditional life sciences with quantitative prediction, precise design, standardized synthesis, and accurate regulation of synthetic genomes. The Key Laboratory is dedicated to synthetic genomics in the following aspects: 1) developing theoretical concepts and principles through engineering synthetic yeast genomes, which could guide genome redesign in other organisms; 2) developing advanced technologies required for chemical synthesis of complex genomes — this includes genome design software to next-generation DNA synthesis methods, as well as parallel synthesis of large gene fragments and better gene transfer technologies; 3) constructing a platform for developing metabolic engineering applications using synthetic microorganisms and stress-resistant synthetic plants, as well as developing medical application using synthetic organisms. The lab strives to bring together experts in the field of synthetic genomics by providing a platform to incubate novel biotechnology that could offer new solutions to the major challenges encountered by human society in resources, energy, health, environment, and safety.
