Synthetic biologists are trying to create built-to-order cells in the laboratory. Although the research field is still in its infancy, it’s already achieved some notable successes.Tomorrow Today pays a visit to Sven Panke, a pioneering synthetic biologist. In one of his projects, he is trying to create bacteria that are programmed to carry out special tasks, using existing building blocks of nature. One day, he hopes, the designer bacteria will be used by the pharmaceutical industry to develop medications.