We’re not just editing genes anymore, we’re writing them

Imagine if instead of fixing typos in a book, you started writing an entirely new book, in a new language, with help from a highly intelligent robot. That’s what scientists are doing with synthetic genomes. We used to just tweak DNA (like fixing a misspelled gene). Now, with help from AI, we’re designing entire genomes from scratch.

This is what projects like synHG (Synthetic Human Genome) are all about; building a human genome that wasn’t inherited from parents, but assembled by algorithms. These aren’t genomes shaped by nature; they’re engineered for precision, performance, or even creative exploration.

Current tools are not prepared

Bioinformatics- the sciencey toolbox we use to read and understand DNA- is kind of like a map that helps us explore natural genomes. But these maps were made for the “old world” of biology, where DNA followed nature’s rules.

Now? Those rules are out the window. In AI-optimized genomes, we don’t see familiar landmarks (like gene markers or conserved regions). Our usual tools, like variant callers, alignment algorithms, and genome annotation engines often get confused. They’re trying to find patterns that simply don’t exist in these new, synthetic sequences.

The result? Logjams. Misreads. Frustrated scientists. And growing piles of confusing data.

What we need: a whole new kind of bioinformatics

This isn’t just a software update, it’s a reboot. To handle AI-designed DNA, our bioinformatics systems must:

• Explain themselves: Tools should show how the AI made its decisions and why the genome was designed that way. That means interpretable machine learning and transparent model pipelines.
• Catch mistakes early: Think automated QC pipelines, motif anomaly detectors, and robust validation layers. We don’t want to find errors after putting synthetic DNA into cells.
• Scale easily: Synthetic biology moves fast. Bioinformatics must scale with lab automation, cloud platforms, and real-time experimental feedback loops.
• Play well with others: Modular design means we can plug in new tools as standards evolve, whether that’s DNA design languages or multi-omics integration frameworks.
  

In this world, bioinformatics isn’t just an analyst anymore, it becomes a co-pilot in the design of life.

From the lab bench to real life: watching synthetic DNA in action

Designing a synthetic genome is cool, but we need to see how it behaves inside a real, living cell. That’s where in vivo monitoring comes in.

We’ll need tools like:

• Real-time RNA-seq to track gene activity
• Proteomics to watch which proteins are made
• Biosensors to detect anything weird or harmful
• Anomaly detection systems (think of them as genome babysitters)
  

And because we’re in this for the long haul, we’ll need standardized tracking systems that can monitor synthetic organisms for years, or even decades.

This isn’t just about making things work, it’s about earning trust, ensuring safety, and documenting everything responsibly.

Wait… Are these synthetic genomes even “Human”?

Here’s the big question: If we build a genome that never came from a human, is the result still human? Or is it something new?

Our usual idea of a species is based on evolution and reproduction. But synthetic organisms might not fit that mold. So we need to ask:

• What are they?
• Do they get rights?
• Should we give them names, protections, or ethical status?
  

These aren’t just biology questions, they’re philosophical and legal ones. And as we push the limits of science, we have to ask not just “Can we do this?” but “Should we, and how carefully?”

Final thoughts, from one scientist to another

We’re entering a future where DNA is no longer inherited, it’s engineered. AI is becoming a genetic architect, and we need bioinformatics to evolve into something smarter, safer, and more collaborative.

Projects like synHG are just the beginning. If we want to shape this future responsibly, we need to build systems, and ask questions that are as advanced as the science itself.

Because when you start designing life… you’d better be ready to understand it, guide it, and care for it.

Link to original announcement: https://wellcome.org/news/new-project-pioneer-principles-human-genome-synthesis