Abstract
Synthetic biology aims at designing biological systems, at building ‘living machines’. The emergence of synthetic biology has reignited the cycle of public debate. The old biotechnology debate is being reiterated and the controversies are deepened. The societal debate follows the technological hype cycle. A new technology with a high visibility and high expectations also raises high controversies. For synthetic biology, this hype is currently near its peak and the first signs of disillusionment are getting visible. In policy development, on the other hand, synthetic biology is in the early stages. Governments examine the need for adaptations to existing regulatory frameworks. There is a gap between the visibility of the technological developments and policy formulation. This gap is crucial for technology assessment: while the hype in public attention is over, essential policy steps are taken. In order to close this gap, technology assessment needs to facilitate the societal–ethical debate when media attention, and thus the visibility of the technological developments, declines.
Zusammenfassung
Synthetische Biologie zielt darauf ab, biologische Systeme zu entwerfen, also “lebende Maschinen” zu bauen. Das Aufkommen der synthetischen Biologie hat die öffentliche Debatte neu entfacht. Die alte Biotechnologiedebatte wurde wieder aufgenommen und die Kontroversen vertieft. Die gesellschaftliche Debatte folgt dem technologischen “Hype”. Eine neue Technologie, die eine hohe Präsenz besitzt und an die hohe Erwartungen gestellt werden, auch viele Kontroversen mit sich. Für die synthetische Biologie ist dieser Hype derzeit auf dem Höhepunkt und die ersten Zeichen der Ernüchterung sind sichtbar. Auf politischer Ebene befindet sich die Beschäftigung mit der synthetischen Biologie noch im Anfangsstadium. Die Regierungen prüfen die Notwendigkeit von Anpassungen an den bestehenden Rechtsrahmen. Es besteht eine Kluft zwischen der Sichtbarkeit der technischen Entwicklung und der Formulierung einer Politik. Diese Lücke ist von entscheidender Bedeutung für die Beurteilung der Technologie: Während das öffentliche Interesse abgenommen hat, werden wesentliche politische Maßnahmen ergriffen. Um diese Lücke zu schließen ist es notwendig, dass Technology Assessment die gesellschaftlich-ethische Debatte erleichtert, auch wenn die Aufmerksamkeit der Medien und damit die Sichtbarkeit der technischen Entwicklung abnimmt.
Résumé
La biologie synthétique vise à concevoir des systèmes biologiques, pour construire des “machines vivantes”. L’émergence de la biologie synthétique a relancé le débat public. Le débat concernant la biotechnologie ancienne est repris et les controverses sont développées. Le débat de société suit la hype technologique. Une nouvelle technologie avec une grande visibilité et des attentes élevées soulève également des controverses élevées. Pour la biologie synthétique ce battage médiatique est proche de son point culminant, maintenant que les premiers signes de désillusion deviennent visibles. Dans l’élaboration de politiques, d’autre part, la biologie synthétique est dans les premiers stades. Les gouvernements examinent la nécessité d’adapter les cadres réglementaires existants. Il y a un écart entre la visibilité de l’évolution technologique et la formulation des politiques. Cette écart est cruciale pour l’évaluation des technologies de pointe : Tandis que l’attention du grand publicest « hors de la hype”, des décisions politiques essentielles sont prises. Afin de combler cet écart et ce retard entre nouvelle technologie et le politique il est nécessaire que la Technology Assessment facilite et provoque le débat societal et éthique lorsque l’attention des médias, et donc la visibilité de l’évolution technologique, est en baisse.
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Notes
In 1990 a framework for discussions on the ethical aspects of research was presented in the Dutch House of Representatives by science minister Jo Ritzen. This framework divides the progress of an ethical discussion into four phases that can be recognised in an ethical debate: ‘Identification’, ‘Articulation’, ‘Value Assignation’ and ‘Analysis’.
The Netherlands Commission on Genetic Modification (COGEM) advises the Dutch government on the potential risks of genetic modification to human health and the environment. In addition, COGEM brings ethical and social issues related to genetic modification to the attention of the relevant ministers.
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Acknowledgments
This article is based upon a Report of the Netherlands Commission on Genetic Modification (COGEM)Footnote 2 answering the question on when and how governments will have to anticipate the public debate on synthetic biology. In the report “Biological Machines? Anticipating developments in synthetic biology”, COGEM analyses developments in synthetic biology from different perspectives in order to help the government prepare for future developments in this field. We would like to acknowledge all the experts who were involved in the realisation of this report for their input, which is also used in this article.
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Mampuys, R., Brom, F.W.A. The quiet before the storm: anticipating developments in synthetic biology. Poiesis Prax 7, 151–168 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10202-010-0082-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10202-010-0082-6