Table 1 Overview of SB subfields and related keywords

Constructing (natural) DNA

Synthetic DNA, constructing viruses in the lab, resurrecting extinct animals (e.g. mammoth) by reconstructing their DNA

Reconstructing organisms using natural bio-parts

Re-programming life, tuning life, biological parts, biobricks, engineering life, designing and constructing life

Minimizing natural organisms (top-down)

Reduced life, minimal life, simple life, minimal genome

Constructing whole cells or parts thereof

Creating life from scratch, artificial life, synthetic life, protocells, vesicles

Creating alternative/unnatural lifeforms

Alien life forms, unnatural life forms, weird life, shadow life, completely new life, unknown life, artificial life, second life