SynBioBeta 2026: Programmable Molecular Biology

This collection is part of a series of SynBioBeta 2026 Research Topics. Please see other Research Topics in the collection here:SynBioBeta 2026: AI-Enabled Multiscale Systems Biology for Precision Medicine and Regenerative HealthSynBioBeta 2026: Synthetic Biology for Space Health, Closed-Loop Life Support, and Off-World BiotechnologyThe molecular biosciences form the bedrock of modern life science innovation, driving progress in synthetic biology, systems biology, genetics, biotechnology, and medicine. This Research Topic invites contributions that deepen our mechanistic understanding of biological function - from DNA, RNA, and proteins to metabolites, regulatory circuits, and cellular pathways - and demonstrate how such knowledge can be transformed into programmable biological systems. By integrating molecular detail with predictive design, we can move towards a future where biology is not only observed but engineered with precision and intent.We welcome multiple different article types (including original research, reviews, FAIR² Data, perspectives, opinion, policy brief, etc.) that expand our grasp of molecular mechanisms and their application to the design, control, and repurposing of biological function. Submissions that bridge discovery science with computational, experimental, and translational innovation are particularly encouraged.Key areas of interest include:• Gene regulation, RNA biology, and post-transcriptional control• Protein engineering, enzyme discovery, and molecular design• Structural, chemical, and biophysical insights into biological function• Systems-level modelling and AI-guided molecular engineering• Metabolism, signaling networks, and multi-omics integration• Host–microbe interactions and microbiome regulation• Genome organization and dynamic chromatin architecture• Molecular determinants of phenotype in health and disease• Design-build-test-learn cycles for synthetic and systems biology• Molecular bioscience applications in therapeutics, diagnostics, agriculture, and sustainabilityBy placing molecular function at the center, this Research Topic aims to highlight how fundamental discoveries empower predictive modelling and engineering frameworks, accelerating the translation of knowledge into tangible innovation across medicine, biotechnology, and beyond. Topic editors: Graça Soveral, Valentina Tozzini Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/80702/synbiobeta-2026-programmable-molecular-biology