The impact of synthetic biology in chemical engineering—Educational issues

This paper describes the development of synthetic biology as a distinct entity from current industrial biotechnology and the implications for a future based on its concepts. The role of the engineering design cycle, in synthetic biology is established and the difficulties in making and exact analogy between the two emphasised. It is suggested that process engineers can offer experience in the application of synthetic biology to the manufacture of products which should influence the approach of the synthetic biologist. The style of teaching for synthetic biology appears to offer a new approach at undergraduate level and the challenges to the education of process engineers in this technology are raised. Possible routes to the development of synthetic biology teaching are suggested.

► Synthetic biology offers new industrial processing possibilities.
► Synthetic biology analogous to engineering design process.
► New undergraduate teaching opportunities.
► Process engineers can influence the technology.
► New education for process engineers needed.