Biotech is one of the fastest growing industry sectors and, with the pace of change in recent times, it is scarcely believable that the sequencing of the human genome was completed only 14 years ago. In this article, we look back at the last decade, and just a few of the biotech developments from that time that have the power to significantly change the world in which we live.

Starting in 2007, a Nature Biotechnology publication from researchers at the University of Denmark described conversion of any blood type into type O, which can be transfused into almost any individual. The technique makes use of enzymes that can shear from the surfaces of A, B and AB type red blood cells the antigenic sugars that cause adverse immune reactions when the wrong blood type is given to a patient. The ability to convert blood bank stocks to O type has the potential to quickly address shortages of any particular blood type and ensure that a supply of suitable blood for all is always available.

2010 saw the J. Craig Venter Institute publish details of the first self-replicating, synthetic life form, a bacterium which it named Mycoplasma laboratorium. The organism's genome was designed in silico, before the DNA was synthesised into building blocks which were capable of self-assembling into the synthetic genome inside a yeast cell. The emergence of artificial microbes has huge potential in industrial biotechnology, particularly in the production of biofuels and chemicals.

In 2012, the University of Washington in Seattle disseminated its work on sequencing a fetal genome from cell-free fetal DNA circulating in the mother's blood. Previous techniques for monitoring fetal genetic abnormalities required invasive techniques causing discomfort to the expectant mother and were potentially life-threating for the unborn baby. While this non-invasive analysis undoubtedly opens the door for safer screening of the fetal genome, it does raise moral or ethical questions as to what to do with the results, and takes us further toward "designer babies" with certain genetic traits, for example, hair colour or personality.

No review of recent biotech developments would be complete without mention of the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technique that was presented to the world in 2013. CRISPR/Cas9 makes use of bacterial systems employing RNA to identify foreign DNA and enzymes, but applies the technique to target specific DNA sequences (for example a disease-causing SNP) in a subject, and edit out the mutation. Two teams (the University of California, Berkeley, and the Broad Institute MIT/Harvard) independently came up with the concept, leading to significant patent wars on both sides of the Atlantic (for a review of these patent wars, see our article here). The technique has generated significant interest and investment in view of its potential for eradicating genetic disease, but again raises ethical concerns.

6SensorLabs launched its Nima sensor in 2015, a disposable cartridge pre-loaded with a proprietary antibody able to detect traces of gluten in any kind of food or drink in as little as two minutes. The device meets an immediate need for the millions of individuals suffering from celiac disease or gluten intolerance who find it difficult to eat out without worrying about food being mislabelled or contaminated.

These developments are just a selection from the treasure trove of biotech innovations that have transpired over the last decade, but clearly demonstrate the power of biotech to change people's lives, be that in a directly appreciable way such as the Nima sensor or indirectly via artificial microbes for biofuel production. With this backdrop, the next 10 years are certain to be exciting times for the biotech community.

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