About this Research Topic
The urgency for sustainable solutions to escalating global environmental challenges is at an all-time high. In response, the application of Systems Biology and Synthetic Biology have emerged as a promising avenue, offering innovative approaches to address and potentially reverse these pressing issues.
Our objective is to showcase the novel strategies in which researchers utilize Systems Biology and Synthetic Biology as effective tools for sustainable development to unearth studies outlining bioengineered systems or processes for renewable energy production, biofuel production, or advances that contribute to energy efficiency. This includes, but is not limited to:
Ecosystem Conservation: human activities like environmental destruction and monocultures endanger plant and animal species. Technologies can aid in protecting endangered species and reversing anthropogenic extinctions. We’re looking to host novel investigations into the use of Systems Biology and Synthetic Biology for biodiversity conservation, responsible ecosystem management, and preservation of our environment's integrity.
Climate Crisis: fossil fuel combustion has led to accelerated global warming. Systems Biology and Synthetic Biology approaches can develop carbon fixation technologies to remove greenhouse gasses, improve energy sources, and mitigate emissions of pollutants like methane and nitrous oxide. We’re looking to present studies involving engineered strategies using these biological systems to combat global warming effects, enhance carbon capturing methods, or regulate the increase of global temperatures.
Bioremediation: toxic pollutants from petroleum products and industrialization harm ecosystems and public health. Systems Biology and Synthetic approaches can utilize microorganisms or plants to detoxify contaminants in various environments, including air, water, soil, and industrial effluents. We’re looking to highlight research around engineered organisms designed for cleaning up various forms of environmental pollution, or systems that contribute to efficient waste management.
Environment: land, water, and air quality impact Earth's inhabitants. Biotechnology can help clean the air, provide fresh drinking water, and combat the accumulation of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms in the environment. We’re looking to feature approaches that develop solutions to help clean the air, provide fresh drinking water, or prevent the accumulation of antibiotics and antibiotic resistant microorganisms in the environment.
Exemplary (iGEM) Projects:
2023 iGEM HUST-China (China) was given the Best Climate Crisis Project award for its solar microbial fuel cells system that involved a collaboration between engineered Cyanobacteria and Shewanella to concurrently capture CO2 and produce electricity, with the ultimate goal of reducing CO2 emissions and diminishing the need for fossil fuel combustion.
2023 iGEM Heidelberg (Germany) was given the Best Bioremediation Project award for its novel bioremediation method for upcycling mixed plastic using a co-culture of genetically modified Pseudomonas fluorescens, paving the way toward sustainable production, development, and environmental stewardship.
2023 iGEM Estonia-TUIT (Estonia) was given the Best Conservation Project award for fighting Bee viral infections by boosting the bee's inherent RNA interference immune response, protecting them from the virus' harmful effects.
Learn more about iGEM Projects .
Scope:
This Research Topic encourages submissions from the iGEM community and researchers around the globe who work in areas intersecting Systems Biology, Synthetic Biology and Sustainability. Investigators who pioneer strategies utilizing these biological techniques to address environmental challenges and those who work on enhancing the field's potential to enable sustainable development are particularly encouraged to submit their research. Through this topic, it is our aim to foster meaningful global conversations on how Systems Biology and Synthetic Biology can influence our efforts towards sustainable actions. We invite researchers to share their findings in the form of original research, reviews, perspectives, technology and code, or novel methods and/or their novel applications.
Please note manuscripts that are purely synthetic without a systems approach (i.e. at multiple levels/scales/time points or using multiple methods such as multi-omics) will be considered in our newly launched Frontiers in Synthetic Biology. Please see our 2023 iGEM collection for an idea of systems level papers.
Our objective is to showcase the novel strategies in which researchers utilize Systems Biology and Synthetic Biology as effective tools for sustainable development to unearth studies outlining bioengineered systems or processes for renewable energy production, biofuel production, or advances that contribute to energy efficiency. This includes, but is not limited to:
Ecosystem Conservation: human activities like environmental destruction and monocultures endanger plant and animal species. Technologies can aid in protecting endangered species and reversing anthropogenic extinctions. We’re looking to host novel investigations into the use of Systems Biology and Synthetic Biology for biodiversity conservation, responsible ecosystem management, and preservation of our environment's integrity.
Climate Crisis: fossil fuel combustion has led to accelerated global warming. Systems Biology and Synthetic Biology approaches can develop carbon fixation technologies to remove greenhouse gasses, improve energy sources, and mitigate emissions of pollutants like methane and nitrous oxide. We’re looking to present studies involving engineered strategies using these biological systems to combat global warming effects, enhance carbon capturing methods, or regulate the increase of global temperatures.
Bioremediation: toxic pollutants from petroleum products and industrialization harm ecosystems and public health. Systems Biology and Synthetic approaches can utilize microorganisms or plants to detoxify contaminants in various environments, including air, water, soil, and industrial effluents. We’re looking to highlight research around engineered organisms designed for cleaning up various forms of environmental pollution, or systems that contribute to efficient waste management.
Environment: land, water, and air quality impact Earth's inhabitants. Biotechnology can help clean the air, provide fresh drinking water, and combat the accumulation of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms in the environment. We’re looking to feature approaches that develop solutions to help clean the air, provide fresh drinking water, or prevent the accumulation of antibiotics and antibiotic resistant microorganisms in the environment.
Exemplary (iGEM) Projects:
2023 iGEM HUST-China (China) was given the Best Climate Crisis Project award for its solar microbial fuel cells system that involved a collaboration between engineered Cyanobacteria and Shewanella to concurrently capture CO2 and produce electricity, with the ultimate goal of reducing CO2 emissions and diminishing the need for fossil fuel combustion.
2023 iGEM Heidelberg (Germany) was given the Best Bioremediation Project award for its novel bioremediation method for upcycling mixed plastic using a co-culture of genetically modified Pseudomonas fluorescens, paving the way toward sustainable production, development, and environmental stewardship.
2023 iGEM Estonia-TUIT (Estonia) was given the Best Conservation Project award for fighting Bee viral infections by boosting the bee's inherent RNA interference immune response, protecting them from the virus' harmful effects.
Learn more about iGEM Projects .
Scope:
This Research Topic encourages submissions from the iGEM community and researchers around the globe who work in areas intersecting Systems Biology, Synthetic Biology and Sustainability. Investigators who pioneer strategies utilizing these biological techniques to address environmental challenges and those who work on enhancing the field's potential to enable sustainable development are particularly encouraged to submit their research. Through this topic, it is our aim to foster meaningful global conversations on how Systems Biology and Synthetic Biology can influence our efforts towards sustainable actions. We invite researchers to share their findings in the form of original research, reviews, perspectives, technology and code, or novel methods and/or their novel applications.
Please note manuscripts that are purely synthetic without a systems approach (i.e. at multiple levels/scales/time points or using multiple methods such as multi-omics) will be considered in our newly launched Frontiers in Synthetic Biology. Please see our 2023 iGEM collection for an idea of systems level papers.
Keywords: Sustainability, Systems Biology, Synthetic Biology, Sustainable Action, Conservation, Climate Crisis, Bioremediation, Environment
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
