GCsprog

GCsprog is a domain-specific language and software platform used in synthetic biology for designing, simulating, and documenting genetic circuits. It provides a concise textual syntax for describing genetic parts (promoters, ribosome binding sites, coding sequences, terminators), regulatory logic, and physical context, as well as higher-order circuit connections and constraints. The language supports modular design by enabling parts to be defined once and reused in multiple constructs.

Designs written in GCsprog can be validated against predefined constraints, translated into simulation input for ordinary differential equation models or stochastic simulations, and exported to standard formats such as SBOL or GenBank. The tool typically includes a parts library, a graphical editor that links the text description to schematic diagrams, and interoperability with other software in synthetic biology workflows. Users can perform parameter sweeps, visualize dynamic behavior, and generate reports suitable for documentation and publication.

GCsprog has been adopted in research and education to teach gene circuit design, to prototype constructs before lab work, and to facilitate reproducibility through machine-readable designs. Community development and open-source availability are common, with updates that expand component libraries and compatibility with simulation engines and data formats.

See also: Synthetic biology, genetic circuit, SBOL, iGEM, lab automation, TinkerCell, COPASI.