SRM University-AP, Amaravati, hosted its University Distinguished Lecture 24, bringing together leading academic minds, researchers, and students for an insightful session on cutting-edge biological sciences. The lecture, titled “Synthetic Biology: From Design Principles to the Dark Matter of the Genome,” was delivered by noted scientist Prof. Pawan K Dhar, Executive Director of the CVJ Centre for Synthetic Biology and Biomanufacturing.

The event was attended by the Vice Chancellor, Prof Ch Satish Kumar, Dean – Research Prof. Ranjit Thapa, Executive Director (Research) SRM Group of Institutions, Dr D Narayana Rao, Executive Director (Research) SRM Group of Institutions, along with deans, directors, faculty members, scholars, and students from various disciplines.

Addressing the audience, the Vice Chancellor Ch Satish Kumar emphasised the transformative potential of synthetic biology and its relevance to modern research and industry. He remarked, “We are entering an era where biology is no longer confined to observation but is moving toward construction and design. Synthetic biology represents a new paradigm where we can think about engineering life systems much like we engineer machines.”

He also encouraged students to adopt an interdisciplinary mindset, stating, “Unless we cultivate the mindset to innovate and think beyond traditional boundaries, breakthroughs in areas like artificial biological systems and biomanufacturing will remain out of reach. Platforms like this lecture series are essential for nurturing that mindset.”

Welcoming the gathering, the Research Dean Prof. Ranjit Thapa highlighted the vision and journey of the University Distinguished Lecture (UDL) series. Reflecting on its inception, he said, “We initiated the UDL series over three and a half years ago with a vision to bring the highest category of experts from diverse domains to our campus. It began during challenging times in a virtual format, but today it has evolved into one of the flagship academic platforms of our university.”

He further added, “Through this initiative, we aim to expose our students and researchers to world-class scholarship and make the UDL series one of the most impactful academic engagements at SRM University-AP.”

Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Pawan K Dhar captivated the audience with a deep and thought-provoking exploration of synthetic biology. Sharing his personal journey into the field, he said, “In 2004, attending a conference changed my entire direction from systems biology to synthetic biology. It made me realise that science is not just about understanding life, but also about constructing it.”

He explained the evolution of biological sciences through the lens of reductionism, noting, “For decades, we have been very good at breaking down biological systems into smaller parts and collecting vast amounts of data. But the real challenge and opportunity lies in putting those parts back together in a predictable and engineered manner.”

Elaborating on the concept of engineering in biology, he pointed out, “What we often call genetic engineering is, in many ways, probabilistic. True engineering demands predictability and standards. Synthetic biology is an attempt to bring that rigor into biological systems.”

A significant part of his lecture focused on the unexplored regions of the genome, often referred to as “genomic dark matter.” He explained, “Only a small fraction of the genome codes for proteins. The vast remainder intergenic regions, introns, and other sequences has historically been considered non-functional. But this ‘dark matter’ represents an enormous and largely untapped resource for molecular innovation.”

Highlighting the future potential of this domain, Prof. Dhar stated, “The next breakthroughs in enzyme discovery, therapeutics, and industrial biotechnology will likely come from exploring these unknown regions of the genome. The future of synthetic biology lies not just in what we know, but in what we have yet to understand.”

He also touched upon global advancements and ethical considerations, cautioning, “While the ability to construct biological systems is exciting, we must proceed with responsibility. Scientific progress must be accompanied by thoughtful regulation and ethical awareness.”

The lecture provided valuable insights into emerging concepts such as genome synthesis, digital biology, and the engineering of biological systems, sparking curiosity and engagement among attendees. Students and researchers actively participated in discussions, reflecting the growing interest in interdisciplinary and frontier research areas.

The session concluded with a note of appreciation from the organisers, acknowledging the presence of distinguished guests, faculty, and students. The event once again underscored SRM University-AP’s commitment to fostering innovation, research excellence, and global academic collaboration through impactful initiatives like the University Distinguished Lecture series.