WebLog Journal of Genetics and Genomic Research

Synthetic biology represents a profound transformation in the life sciences, shifting from reactive genetic manipulation to proactive, design-driven construction of biological systems. Using Bacillus subtilis genomics as a historical anchor, we trace the conceptual trajectory from genetic engineering through molecular biology to synthetic biology (SynBio), framing each transition through Thomas Kuhn’s theory of paradigm shifts. We argue that SynBio constitutes a genuine revolutionary…

Classical microbiology has long relied on discrete categories to define bacterial species, pathogenicity, and antimicrobial resistance. However, comparative genomics of neglected species reveals the limitations of these rigid frameworks. Using Corynebacterium glucuronolyticum as a paradigm, we argue that these concepts are better understood as functional constructs that depend on genomic, ecological, and clinical contexts rather than fixed biological entities. This perspective challenges…