For decades, biotechnology companies have been experimenting with genetic engineering, the process of moving genes between species to develop new, lab-created life forms. But more recently the biotech industry has moved even a step beyond such gene tinkering, using the basic molecular building blocks of life to make DNA from scratch.

Now a major deal between leading biotech companies may be making this “synthetic biology” revolution more accessible. The DNA synthesis firm Twist Bioscience is supplying the chemicals and materials maker Gingko Bioworks with 100 million base pairs of its synthetic DNA, according to Fast Company. The deal involves about 10 percent of the world’s total lab-created genetic material, and launches the world’s largest synthetic biology partnership.

The field of synthetic biology hopes to create new medical treatments and to find industrial uses from lab-made DNA. Already companies are testing synthetic biology applications in four main areas: in chemicals, for the production of everything from fragrances to biofuels; in agriculture, to synthesize new fertilizers or pesticides; in pharmaceuticals and medical applications; and for basic research.

But some critics warn that synthetic biology poses serious health and environmental risks, and say that there needs to be more research and regulation of the field.

Last year, Twist and Gingko collaborated to raise $100 million for the partnership, which Twist is using to synthesize the genetic material and which Gingko can use for product development and testing. Through the partnership, the companies hope to drive down costs for the synthetic biology industry overall and hasten innovation broadly.

Synthetic biology can be used to change the basic processes of organisms, to create new drugs, chemicals or materials. For example, using lab-made DNA, yeast can be altered to process sugar into nylon, instead of alcohol, as natural yeast would. Already DuPont sells carpets made with nylon fibers produced from yeast.