In synthetic biology, the application is super clear. Let's say we want to make cocaine (or related compounds) in yeast (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467

In synthetic biology, the application is super clear. Let's say we want to make cocaine (or related compounds) in yeast (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-11588-w https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-11588-w). Well, we know the biosynthetic pathway to get to that molecule (https://biocyc.org/META/new-image?type=PATHWAY&object=PWY-5843 https://biocyc.org/META/new-image?type=PATHWAY&object=PWY-58...), and we know the biosynthetic pathways in yeast that intersect with that pathway. In the tropane paper, they express 15 new genes and did 7 disruptions. There should be a way to declare "I want this end product" and a system knowledgeable about the proteins associated with the reactions necessary to get there should be able to fit the puzzle of "ok, if you express these proteins you get that end product, and if you knock down these genes in the organism it should increase your production". This generalized system should be applicable to nearly any biosynthetic pathway, and I think there is definitely a profitable niche at being good at that.