What is synthetic biology?

Synthetic biology is an interdisciplinary field that merges principles from biology and engineering to design and construct new biological components or systems. It allows scientists to redesign organisms for useful purposes by modifying their genetic material, thereby creating biological systems with novel functionalities. This field often employs the tools and techniques of genetic engineering to produce organisms with desired traits, but its scope extends well beyond simple genetic manipulation to include the design of entirely new biological systems, which may not exist in nature.

The focus on combining biology and engineering is crucial because it involves not only understanding biological functions and structures but also applying engineering principles to create predictable and reliable biological processes. This interdisciplinary approach enables a range of applications, from creating sustainable biofuels and biodegradable plastics to developing new medical therapeutics. Understanding this distinction helps clarify why this specific answer accurately encapsulates the essence of synthetic biology as compared to the other options, which do not represent the full scope and nature of this innovative field.