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Old and New Risks in Synthetic Biology: Topics and Tools for Discussion

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Synthetic Biology Analysed

Part of the book series: Ethics of Science and Technology Assessment ((ETHICSSCI,volume 44))

Abstract

When approaching the discussion on possible risks that might be elicited by synthetic biology we face two problems: The first one is the fluid definition of synthetic biology and the associated difficulties structuring the discussion. In the context of benefit/risk assessment this problem is even aggravated, since the label of synthetic biology is used ambiguously depending on political context. One possible tool to circumvent this problem is to reflect the realities of the research field and to focus on new features of synthetic biology that are relevant to the risk discussion. These new features are in particular the growing depth of intervention in the organism and, the decreasing familiarity of synthetic organisms that together with the high speed of technological development challenge established risk assessment systems. This leads to the second problem in the risk assessment: the increasing level of uncertainty associated with synthetic organisms that is due to our lack of knowledge of their behaviour in the environment which cannot be reduced by research within a relevant time of action. Thus, lacks of knowledge in combination with the transformative potential of synthetic biology are the main challenges ahead.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    See also Chap. 2.

  2. 2.

    Most of the provided information is based on a non-public expertise conducted by Margret Engelhard and Kristin Hagen for the German Parliament. The expertise (duration: 2/2012–12/2012) is based on qualitative interviews with leading scientists from within synthetic biology, scientists that research on synthetic biology and active artists. Main content of the interviews were the current status of synthetic biology, its framing (also in comparison to genetic engineering), on xenobiology and protocell research, the individual research agendas, the role of DIY-biology and questions on potential risks.

  3. 3.

    As an example of the unifying power of synthetic biology “This is a new way of thinking and it is not limited to biologists. Our science is so much more kid-driven and open to people outside of conventional biology than it’s ever been before. I meet engineers; I meet physicians, people using these tools to solve problems.” (John Glass, 31.05.2012) (source interviews, see FN1)

  4. 4.

    See FN1.

  5. 5.

    For example „You get a lot of very exciting research and breakthroughs when you bring people with different disciplines together on a problem” (Lynn Rothshield, 14.06.2012); “Because if it becomes a sort of, let’s say synthetic biology training—we will lose some of the interdisciplinarity, which will not be nice.” (Sheref Mansy, 15.06.2012), (source interviews, see FN1).

  6. 6.

    However having in mind the rapid speed of synthetic biology, the statements were cautious with respect to predictions (for positive predictions see also Schmidtke and Schmidtke, 2007.).

  7. 7.

    Synthetic Biology as Collective Fantasy by Christina Agapakis, http://studiolab.di.rca.ac.uk/blog/synthetic-biology-as-collective-fantasy, assessed 11 August 2015.

  8. 8.

    See FN above.

  9. 9.

    See FN above.

  10. 10.

    http://2020science.org/2015/02/02/novelty-nanomaterials-overrated-comes-risk/#1.

  11. 11.

    See for example the Convention on Biological Diversity online discussion about synthetic biology, Topic 3: “Operational definition of synthetic biology, comprising inclusion and exclusion criteria”, where operational definitions are discussed, bch.cbd.int/synbio/open-ended/pastdiscussions.shtml#topic3, Accessed 19 June 2015. Jim Thomas from the ETC-group (post [#6829]), for example, suggests a very wide definition, whereas Steven Evans from Dow AgroSciences (post [#6877]) writes that “one line in the sand for separating 'traditional' molecular biology and synthetic biology is the point at which the resulting organism, irrespective of how they were inspired or how they were actualized, can no longer exchange information or transcribe/translate information with its originating species strain or any other 'natural' species.” Thus, in effect, Evans suggests restricting an operational definition of synthetic biology to xenobiology.

  12. 12.

    Noncanonical amino acids, are amino acids that do not occur in the genetic code.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. EA European Academy of Technology and Innovation Assessment GmbH, Wilhelmstr. 56, 53474, Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Germany

    Margret Engelhard

  2. Philipps-Universität Marburg, Fachbereich Biologie, Karl-Von-Frisch-Str. 8, 35032, Marburg, Germany

    Michael Bölker

  3. Department of Chemistry, TU Berlin, Müller-Breslau-Straße 10, 10623, Berlin, Germany

    Nediljko Budisa

Authors
  1. Margret Engelhard
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  2. Michael Bölker
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  3. Nediljko Budisa
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Correspondence to Margret Engelhard .

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  1. & Innovation Assessment GmbH, EA European Academy of Technology, Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany

    Margret Engelhard

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Engelhard, M., Bölker, M., Budisa, N. (2016). Old and New Risks in Synthetic Biology: Topics and Tools for Discussion. In: Engelhard, M. (eds) Synthetic Biology Analysed. Ethics of Science and Technology Assessment, vol 44. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-25145-5_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-25145-5_3

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