iGEM 2025/2026: Technological Advancements in Engineering: From Production to AI and Software

Technological advancement is marked by increased precision, accuracy, efficiency, or capability in technologies or applied sciences. Throughout history, such advancements have brought transformative changes, some being revolutionary. At the intersection of Systems Biology, Synthetic Biology, and Bioinformatics, technological advancements present a broad array of opportunities and challenges. Biological systems, for example, show potential for biomanufacturing, achieving production under conditions deemed impossible via chemical engineering. Furthermore, the integration of AI and computational power is poised to revolutionize bioinformatics and systems biology processes. There are significant opportunities in data visualization to enhance and communicate complex insights.

This Research Topic aims to spotlight the multifaceted applications of Systems Biology, Synthetic Biology, and Bioinformatics at the intersection of technological advancements. Our objective is to seek innovative methodologies in biomanufacturing, including the use of systems and synthetic biology to produce high-value molecules and engineered tissues. This topic also welcomes studies involving AI-driven software innovations for biology, and studies or methodologies which improve data visualization and understanding.

To gather further insights across these intersections, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
● Biomanufacturing advancements using biological systems for innovative production methods;
● Integration of AI and computational tools to revolutionize systems biology processes;
● Visualization strategies that enhance understanding and communication of complex data;
● Cross-disciplinary innovations bridging biology with technological solutions for applied sciences.

This Research Topic encourages submissions from the iGEM community working at the intersection of these fields. We invite researchers to share their findings through various available formats such as original research, reviews, perspectives, technology and code, methods or hypothesis and theory. Please see our 2023 iGEM Collection and 2024 iGEM Collection for an idea of systems level papers.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: iGEM, Systems Biology, Technology, bioinformatics, biomanufacturing, data visualization, AI, production

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.