All Things Considered Synthetic Biology

CQ Researcher examines the pros/cons to utilizing synthetic biology

CQ ResearchersApril 2014 article,Synthetic Biology: Should Scientists Try to Create New Life Forms, delves into the benefits and hesitations of using synthetic biology to create new or improved medicines, fuels and other innovative products. The pro/con piece within the article showcases a debate between BIOs own Dr. Rina Singh, Senior Director, Industrial and Environmental and Jaydee Hanson, Senior Policy Analyst, Center for Food Safety, and Policy Director, International Center for Technology Assessment. Both contributors had to address the question Should there be a moratorium on synthetic biotechnology?

Dr. Rina Singh states that there does not need to be a moratorium on synthetic biotechnology:

While the term synthetic biology is relatively new, the science is not. Synthetic biology is an evolution of biotechnology and has been safely used in the development of products that provide societal benefits.

With a new wealth of genomic data, scientists have increased the speed, precision and predictability of bio-based products. The biotechnology industry has had a decades-long record of safety under the current regulatory regime

The U.S. economy, our environment and human health all benefit from biotech and synthetic biology innovations, and we expect even more significant advances in the future.

On the other side, Jaydee Hanson states that there does need to be a moratorium on synthetic biotechnology:

Synthetic biology needs regulations tailored to this new scienceThe first products of synthetic biology are leaving the laboratory, mostly made from new microorganisms approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under its Generally Regarded as Safe (GRAS) process, which allows the company not the FDA to assess product safety. GRAS should not be used for any food additives, much less additives produced using this extreme form of genetic engineering.

Now is the time to develop regulations for synthetic biology, not after synthetic biologists release the next kudzu or gypsy moth. Those destructive organisms grew for decades before we realized that they should not have been introduced into the United States by scientists.

We encourage you to read the pro/con piece and synthetic biology article in its entiretyhere.

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All Things Considered Synthetic Biology