Britain needs a national strategy for research and training in synthetic biology if it is not to lose out in the next industrial revolution in the life sciences, says the Royal Academy of Engineering.

“The UK missed out in the 1970s microchip revolution because the government and decision-makers were not fully informed by experts in the field about its potential,” says Richard Kitney of Imperial College London, lead author of the RAE report. “Synthetic biology is destined to become of critical importance to building the nation’s wealth.”