Synthetic biology, or breaking down life into its basic component parts to create enhanced biological systems, can be likened to writing software that enables life. Or genetic engineering on steroids.

Whereas previous technologies may have introduced one, two, or a handful of genes into an organism, synthetic biology allows scientists and engineers at companies such as Ginkgo Bioworks, Fermentome, and Intrexon to rebuild large swaths of an organism’s genome — or create an entirely new genome, and therefore organism — from the ground up using the best traits offered by nature.

Let’s explore five unbelievable technologies made possible by synthetic biology to ensure we don’t sell the field short or fail to recognize its tremendous potential.

Read the full, original story: 5 Unbelievable (but Real) Technologies Made Possible by Synthetic Biology