生物体的发育取决于祖细胞内部遗传程序和它们的时空复杂外部环境。从祖细胞中体外生成器官为再现和探索发育提供了一个平台。目前的方法主要依靠可溶性形态因子或工程生物材料来操纵物理环境，但新兴的合成生物学领域提供了一个强大的工具箱，用于基因操纵细胞通讯、粘附甚至细胞命运。将这些模块化工具应用于体外生成器官，应该会导致更深入了解发育原理、改进器官模型，并增强设计组织用于再生目的的能力。

The development of an organism depends on intrinsic genetic programs of progenitor cells and their spatiotemporally complex extrinsic environment. Ex vivo generation of organoids from progenitor cells provides a platform for recapitulating and exploring development. Current approaches rely largely on soluble morphogens or engineered biomaterials to manipulate the physical environment, but the emerging field of synthetic biology provides a powerful toolbox to genetically manipulate cell communication, adhesion, and even cell fate. Applying these modular tools to organoids should lead to a deeper understanding of developmental principles, improved organoid models, and an enhanced capability to design tissues for regenerative purposes.Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Inc.