Three Ways Synthetic Biology Could Help Fight Disease and Prevent Extinction

Originally reported by Smithsonian January 21, 2026

More than a century ago, a quiet observation at the Bronx Zoo marked the beginning of one of the greatest ecological disasters in North American history.

In the summer of 1904, Herman Merkel, the zoo’s chief forester, noticed strange orange-brown cankers spreading across American chestnut trees. The cause was later identified as Cryphonectria parasitica, a fungal pathogen inadvertently introduced on imported Japanese chestnuts. While Asian species were resistant, the fungus proved devastating to native American trees, severing their ability to transport water and nutrients.

By the 1950s, chestnut blight had wiped out an estimated 99 percent of American chestnut trees across the eastern United States—more than four billion trees. Today, the species is considered functionally extinct.

Now, a rapidly advancing field known as synthetic biology may offer new tools to confront not only the chestnut blight, but also wildlife disease, habitat degradation, and even human illnesses such as malaria.

Synthetic biology involves editing an organism’s DNA to introduce or modify genes, with applications spanning medicine, agriculture, conservation, and environmental remediation. While the approach has sparked ethical debate, researchers say it could play a critical role in preventing extinctions and reducing disease burdens in both animals and people.

Below are three ways scientists are exploring its potential.

1. Engineering Disease-Resistant Trees

Researchers at the State University of New York (SUNY) have spent decades attempting to restore the American chestnut using gene-editing techniques. Their approach centers on a gene borrowed from wheat that produces an enzyme called oxalate oxidase.

The resulting tree, known as Darling 54, does not prevent infection outright, but it appears to limit the severity of damage caused by chestnut blight. Confined field trials have been underway in New York State, though the project has faced setbacks, including slower growth rates, higher mortality in some tests, and the American Chestnut Foundation’s withdrawal of support in late 2023.

Despite these challenges, Newhouse says the work remains promising.

Beyond chestnuts, researchers are investigating whether similar strategies could help protect other blight-threatened species, including the Ozark chinquapin, American elm, and American beech.

2. Helping Frogs Survive a Global Fungal Crisis

Amphibians worldwide are facing unprecedented losses from chytridiomycosis, a fungal disease that has affected more than 500 species and driven at least 90 to extinction.

One of the hardest-hit species is Australia’s southern corroboree frog. Fewer than 50 individuals remain in the wild.

The team has sequenced the frog’s genome and identified genetic variants associated with resistance to the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. The researchers are selectively breeding individuals with greater natural resistance while studying related frog species that coexist with the fungus but remain unaffected.

Gene editing in wild amphibians remains years away. Kosch estimates it could take a decade before genetically modified frogs are considered for release, emphasizing that the process will be cautious and incremental.

3. Reducing Mosquito-Borne Malaria

Synthetic biology may also play a role in protecting human health. Malaria remains a leading cause of death in parts of Africa, accounting for the vast majority of global cases and fatalities.

Target Malaria is developing genetically modified mosquitoes designed to suppress mosquito populations by disrupting reproduction. Some strains produce more males, which do not bite, while others reduce female fertility.

The long-term goal is the use of gene drives, genetic mechanisms that allow engineered traits to spread through populations over generations. While gene drives are controversial due to their irreversible nature, Birungi argues that the consequences of inaction must also be considered.

“A lot of the time people focus on ‘What happens if we do something?’” she says. “But never forget to balance that against what would happen if you do nothing.”

Proceeding With Caution

The growing interest in synthetic biology has prompted international debate. At the World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi last year, leaders adopted a framework to guide future research, while some academics and advocacy groups called for a moratorium on gene editing in wild species.

Critics argue that ecosystem impacts are difficult to predict and potentially irreversible. Supporters counter that research is tightly regulated, slow-moving, and subject to extensive oversight.

As veterinary professionals, conservationists, and scientists grapple with these questions, one thing is clear: synthetic biology is no longer theoretical. Whether it becomes a widely accepted conservation tool will depend on careful science, transparent regulation, and ongoing public engagement.