What does the term 'synthetic biology' refer to?

The term 'synthetic biology' refers to an interdisciplinary field that focuses on redesigning and constructing new biological parts, devices, and systems, or reengineering existing biological systems for useful purposes. This field integrates principles from biology, engineering, computer science, and other disciplines to create organisms that have new capabilities or functions that are not seen in nature.

Synthetic biology often involves the use of techniques such as DNA synthesis and assembly, gene editing, and metabolic engineering to create customized biological systems. This can include engineering microbes to produce biofuels, pharmaceuticals, or other valuable compounds, as well as developing new therapeutic strategies in medicine. The emphasis on redesigning organisms for specific functions is a core aspect that distinguishes synthetic biology from other fields.

The other options represent concepts that do not capture the essence of synthetic biology. Cloning organisms is a specific technique related to the replication of genetic material, natural selection is a process by which organisms evolve over time due to environmental pressures, and advanced farming techniques do not encompass the broader scope of engineering and redesigning organisms inherent in synthetic biology.