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Synthetic biology’s multiple dimensions of benefits and risks: implications for governance and policies

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Synthetic Biology

Abstract

Synthetic biology (SB) does not constitute a strictly defined field, but may be best described as an engineering approach aimed at redesigning or newly constructing biology-derived parts, systems, and entire organisms. This approach can integrate different disciplines (biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics) and ‘converging technologies’ (biotechnology, nanotechnology, information technology); and knowledge derived from systems biology, whole-genome engineering, pathway engineering, mathematical modeling and computer-aided design, as well as the notion of interchangeable ‘biological parts’, are often seen as hallmarks of the SB idea (Lorenzo and Danchin 2008; NBT 2009; Way et al. 2014).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany

    Harald König

  2. Institut für Ethik Geschichte der Med, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

    Daniel Frank, Reinhard Heil & Christopher Coenen

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  1. Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

    Joachim Boldt

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König, H., Frank, D., Heil, R., Coenen, C. (2016). Synthetic biology’s multiple dimensions of benefits and risks: implications for governance and policies. In: Boldt, J. (eds) Synthetic Biology. Technikzukünfte, Wissenschaft und Gesellschaft / Futures of Technology, Science and Society. Springer VS, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-10988-2_14

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