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About Synthetic Biology


"Synthetic biology" is an umbrella term that refers to a new set of powerful techniques for manipulating the fundamental molecular structures of life, including genes, genomes, cells and proteins. Techniques being developed under the "synthetic biology" rubric include the modification of existing bacteria to produce useful substances or perform new functions, the creation of novel artificial organisms from "scratch," and — less noted to date — the modification of animal and human genes.

Synthetic biologists foresee a host of human applications, including new methods to produce drugs, biofuels and vaccines; to diagnose, prevent and cure disease; and — far more controversially — to screen, select, and modify genes for specified traits in embryos, children, and adults. Nonetheless, the field remains in its early days, and separating hype from real potential remains difficult.

While diverse constituencies have voiced concerns about ecological and biosecurity risks, little attention has so far been called to the dangers connected to synthetic biology's human applications. Synthetically engineered viruses and pathogens and synthetic organisms released in the human body such as "tumor eating" bacteria, for example, pose profound dangers to human health.

Synthetic biology also presents dangers of a different kind if the field spawns forms of human genetic manipulation that heretofore have been impracticable. These include human reproductive cloning, the creation of "designer babies" through inheritable genetic modification, and other purported "enhancements." Leading figures in the synthetic biology field have in fact predicted, and in some cases embraced, such eugenic visions.

Such prospects raise concerns for social justice, human rights, and equality. However, at present, no comprehensive framework for assessment, oversight and regulation of synthetic biology exists nationally or internationally.


Real-Life True Blood: Synthetic Blood Is Coming — And So Are a Host of Potential Complicationsby Devon MaloneyWiredJune 14th, 2013Researchers at the Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine got the go-ahead late last month to start developing synthetic blood with adult stem cells.
Glowing Plants: Awesome Kickstarter or Creepy Biotech?by Tom PhilpottMother JonesJune 10th, 2013The "Kickstopper" campaign seeks to halt the "glowing plants" Kickstarter project until a proper regulatory regime can be put into place for the release of synthetic organisms.
The Campaign Kickstarter Shouldn't Be Fundingby L. Jim ThomasThe Huffington PostJune 6th, 2013Kickstarter is set to hand hundreds of thousands of dollars to a controversial project for the widespread and unregulated distribution of over half a million extreme-bioengineered seeds.
De-Extinction Debate: Should Extinct Species Be Revived?by Liza GrossKQEDJune 5th, 2013As conservation scientists struggle to stem the catastrophic loss of biodiversity, some synthetic biologists want to resurrect extinct species with back-breeding, cloning and genetic engineering.
Discussing "De-Extinction"by Pete ShanksBiopolitical TimesJune 5th, 2013A one-day conference, "De-extinction: Ethics, Law & Politics," included advocates of the idea, as well as environmentalists, animal welfare experts and philosophers expressing a range of concerns.
A Dream of Trees Aglow at Nightby Andrew PollackThe New York TimesMay 7th, 2013Two Singularity University alums started a project to develop plants that glow using synthetic biology, but environmental organizations have pointed out this will lead to the uncontrolled release of bioengineered seeds.
Direct Action? Seats at the Table? All of the Above?by Pete ShanksBiopolitical TimesMay 2nd, 2013Last week, some 15 French activists in chimpanzee masks disrupted a Forum on Synthetic Biology in Paris, raising questions about the appropriateness of that kind of activism.
How are Humans Going to Become Extinct?by Sean CoughlanBBC NewsApril 25th, 2013Experiments in areas such as synthetic biology, nanotechnology and machine intelligence are hurtling forward into the territory of the unintended and unpredictable.
Never Mind Humanityby Ari SchulmanThe American ConservativeApril 25th, 2013Ray Kurzweil's new book might be dismissed on the bluster of its title alone, were it not the latest work from the famed futurist, inventor, and artificial-intelligence pioneer who has been hired as a director of engineering at Google.
Earth Day in Biopoliticsby Jessica CussinsBiopolitical TimesApril 22nd, 2013In honor of Earth Day, let’s hope for a move away from “greenwashed” PR stunts and techno-fixes toward conservation, sustainability, and social responsibility.
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