primer for synthetic biology (2007 draft)
https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/oww-files-public/3/3d/SB_Primer_100707.pdf

“Synthetic biology,” in the modern sense, means using engineering
principles to create functional systems based on the molecular machines and
regulatory circuits of living organisms. However, it also includes going beyond
them to develop radically new systems. At the very least, synthetic biology
represents a merger of molecular biology, genetic engineering and computer
science1
– and given the scale of the components that it works with, it also
qualifies as a form of nanotechnology. Students and others who wish to learn
about or – better still – to do synthetic biology often approach this exciting field
with only some of the background necessary to grasp its essentials. This threepart primer represents an effort to assist them in filling gaps in their knowledge.
Part I, “Molecular Biology for Novices,” summarizes the key aspects of
biochemistry and molecular biology that bear on synthetic biology. Part II,
“Engineering for Biologists,” introduces some basic engineering principles and
the most important tools used in synthetic biology. Part III, “Ethics for
Everyone,” briefly outlines the key ethical issues facing synthetic biology today.