It's research combinding engineering and science.
Used to create biological systems and functions.
Term introduced in 1974 by Waclaw Szybalski
Here's a link to more information.
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synthetic_biology

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Definitions copied from different websites
"Synthetic biology is a new area of biological research that combines science and engineering in order to design and build ("synthesize") novel biological functions and systems."
"The application of genetic engineering to generate modified or even completely new forms of life"
"The design and construction of new biological entities such as enzymes, genetic circuits, and cells, or the redesign of existing biological systems"
" A discipline that embraces the emerging ability to design, synthesize and evolve new genomes or biomimetic systems"
Source(s):
http://www.nature.com/nrg/journal/v5/n5/glossary/nrg1325_glossary.html
http://berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2007/02/01_nrg-glossary.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synthetic_biology
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/synthetic_biology

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