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    Søltofts Plads, Bygning 221

    DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby

    Denmark

Organisation profile

Organisation profile

Synthetic biology is based on the mindset of seeing biology and biotechnology in particular as an engineering discipline like any other, such as seen in electronics or mechanics.

The discipline is based on combining biological components – both those found in nature and new synthetic components – to achieve new functions, qualities and products. It allows us to tap into the diversity of nature and biological solutions based on millions of years of evolution and combine them to design biological solutions for current and future challenges. 

Properly applied and developed, synthetic biology has the potential to be a transforming technology for our society, with built in sustainability.

The Section of Synthetic Biology hosts the primary synthetic biology and cell factory engineering activities of the department. The section is host to synthetic biology research activities in a wide palette of organisms including representatives from bacteria, fungi, and plants. The research spans method development for gene and genome editing, bioreactor cultivations for quantitative physiology, synthetic biology, regulation engineering, protein production, expression, and discovery of bioactive compounds. 

We study a variety of conventional and non-conventional cell factories, in particular yeast, filamentous fungi, plant cells, and bacterial cells as well as organisms usable for genome mining for potential products.

DTU Fermentation core

The section hosts the DTU fermentation core, containing 63 bioreactors in the 0.1-20 L scale as well as equipment for controlled milliliter scale cultivations which will be expanded by completely new automatic micro-fermentation setups for high throughput screening of production strains. Furthermore, the section has extensive equipment for genetic engineering and strain construction, including minor capacity in robotics, liquid handling and colony picking.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Our work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 2 - Zero Hunger
  • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
  • SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
  • SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
  • SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
  • SDG 13 - Climate Action
  • SDG 14 - Life Below Water

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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

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  • Novozymes Student Poster Prize

    de Reus, E. (Recipient), 14 Mar 2017

    Prize: Prizes, scholarships, distinctions

  • Poster prize

    Rasmussen, J. L. N. (Recipient), 19 Mar 2017

    Prize: Prizes, scholarships, distinctions

  • Poster prize

    Rasmussen, J. L. N. (Recipient), 6 Apr 2016

    Prize: Prizes, scholarships, distinctions