Understanding of genetic regulatory circuits are key in the field of synthetic biology, where disparate genetic elements are combined to produce novel biological functions. These biological gene circuits can be used synthetically to act as physical models for studying regulatory function.
By engineering genetic regulatory circuits, cells can be modified to take information from their environment, such as nutrient availability and developmental signals, and react in accordance to changes in their surroundings . In plant synthetic biology, genetic regulatory circuits can be used to program traits to increase crop plant efficiency by increasing their robustness to environmental stressors. Additionally, they are used to produce biopharmaceuticals for medical intervention.