From sequence to function and back – High-throughput sequence-function mapping in synthetic biology

How does genetic sequence give rise to biological function? Answering this question is key to our understanding of life and the construction of synthetic biosystems that fight disease, resource scarcity and climate change. Unfortunately, the virtually infinite number of possible sequences and limitations in their functional characterization limit our current understanding of sequence-function relationships. To overcome this dilemma, several high-throughput methods to experimentally link sequences to corresponding functional properties have been developed recently. While all of these share the goal to collect sequence-function data at large scale, they differ significantly in their technical approach, functional readout and application scope. Herein, we highlight recent developments in the aspiring field of high-throughput sequence-function mapping providing a critical assessment of their potential in synthetic biology.