Synthetic biology is a rapidly evolving field that focuses on designing and refining biological systems (several small biological components working together to perform a common function) for a desired use. It is an engineering discipline based on the principles of biology. The end product of such a biological system ranges from simple compounds to complex artificial organisms. Synthetic biology has vast applications in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, bioremediation, and many more areas.
Synthetic biology follows a DBTL cycle:
A key tool of synthetic biology is genetic engineering. DNA, the genetic code of the cell, can be cut, pasted, and edited to modify gene functions. The 'engineered' DNA is replicated and expressed to obtain the desired results. This means you can program a cell, by introducing new genes or editing existing ones, to create the product you want - which in most cases is a protein of some sort, but could also be an organism exhibiting desirable traits.
Previous iGEM projects by IISc teams serve as fantastic examples of the potential of Synthetic Biology: