How artificial life spawned a billion-dollar industry

Scientists are getting closer to building life from scratch and technology pioneers are taking notice, with record sums moving into a field that could deliver novel drugs, materials, chemicals and even perfumes. Despite ethical and safety concerns, investors are attracted by synthetic biology's wide market potential and the plummeting cost of DNA synthesis, which is industrialising the writing of the genetic code that determines how organisms function. While existing biotechnology is already used to make medicines like insulin and genetically modified crops, synthesising whole genes or genomes gives an opportunity for far more extensive changes. Alexander the friendly robot visits the Indoor Park in London (file pic). Technology pioneers are investing huge sums of money in all manner of innovative ideas.