Background of Establishment

Synthetic Biology is one of the most forward-looking and strategically significant interdisciplinary fields of the 21st century. It is not merely an extension of molecular biology and genetic engineering, but centers on the “engineering-based reprogramming of life,” treating biological systems as modular units that can be designed, assembled, and optimized. Through the construction of genetic circuits, artificial metabolic pathways, and organelle reconstitution, humanity gains the ability to program cells at a deep level, thereby extending and reshaping natural life forms.

At the international level, synthetic biology is widely regarded as a critical field—after information science and artificial intelligence—that may drive the next wave of scientific and industrial revolutions. In 2019, the U.S. National Academies released the Engineering Biology Roadmap, which emphasized the profound impact of synthetic biology across energy, environment, healthcare, agriculture, and national defense. Institutions such as the EU Horizon Program, Japan’s Science and Technology Agency (JST), and the UK Synthetic Biology Research Centre have all launched dedicated funding schemes to support fundamental research and translational applications in the field. Market data indicate that the global synthetic biology sector exceeded USD 10 billion in 2021, and is projected to surpass USD 100 billion by 2030, positioning it as a strategic frontier in global science and technology competition.

China has likewise placed strong emphasis on the development of synthetic biology. The 14th Five-Year National Key R&D Program identifies synthetic biology as a priority in frontier interdisciplinary research, highlighting its critical role in advancing carbon neutrality, public health, food security, and environmental governance. In recent years, Chinese researchers have achieved a series of pioneering breakthroughs: from the artificial synthesis of yeast chromosomes, to engineered microbial strains for efficient drug production, and environmentally friendly strategies for carbon capture and plastic degradation. These advances underscore the discipline’s vast potential in supporting the “dual carbon” goals and driving the bioeconomy.

Tsinghua University has long-standing strengths in life sciences, chemical engineering, and information science, and has undertaken numerous national research initiatives that produced significant contributions to synthetic biology. Meanwhile, the Tsinghua iGEM team has consistently achieved outstanding results in the International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition. Team members have not only gained rigorous scientific training, but also accumulated rich experience in interdisciplinary collaboration, public science communication, and international exchange.

Nevertheless, student engagement in synthetic biology at Tsinghua remains largely project-based, lacking a long-term, stable, and systematic interest group. The valuable experiences and research outcomes gained through iGEM and similar competitions often prove difficult to sustain after the contest season, resulting in limited knowledge accumulation and translation of research outputs. To address this gap, we propose the establishment of the Tsinghua University Student Synthetic Biology Interest Group.

This group will serve as a long-term platform to extend iGEM achievements and support Tsinghua students’ continuous exploration in synthetic biology. It will not only act as a practice base for undergraduate and graduate students engaged in interdisciplinary research, but also as a starting point for their future contributions to national strategies and global scientific development. Through this initiative, we aim to cultivate a new generation of young scholars equipped with scientific rigor, engineering mindset, and social responsibility, thereby contributing Tsinghua’s strength to the advancement of synthetic biology.