Guest Editorial: Yet Another Emerging Technology: Old and New Questions Posed by Synthetic Biology (original) (raw)

The ethics of synthetic biology: next steps and prior questions

The Hastings Center report, 2014

A majority opinion seems to have emerged in scholarly analysis of the assortment of technologies that have been given the label "synthetic biology." According to this view, society should allow the technology to proceed and even provide it some financial support, while monitor-ing its progress and attempting to ensure that the development leads to good outcomes. The near-consensus is captured by the U.S. Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues in its report New Directions: The Ethics of Synthetic Biology and Emerging Technologies, which arguably marked the end of a preliminary round of analysis about the ethical and policy questions raised by synthetic bi-ology. Like a number of other, earlier documents issued by various groups around the world, the re-port called attention to questions about how the technology will be used; whether it might be mis-used; what sorts of accidents might happen along the way; the economic, environmental, and social impacts o...

Ethical Perspectives on Synthetic Biology

Biological Theory, 2013

Synthetic biologists are extremely concerned with responsible research and innovation. This paper critically assesses their culture of responsibility. Their notion of responsibility has been so far focused on the identification of risks, and in their prudential attitude synthetic biologists consider that the major risks can be prevented with technological solutions. Therefore they are globally opposed to public interference or political regulations and tend to self-regulate by bringing a few social scientists or ethicists on board. This article emphasizes that ethics lies beyond

Ethical Issues in Synthetic Biology

2013

Synthetic biology has been defined as: ?the design and construction of new biological parts, devices, and systems, and the re-design of existing, natural biological systems for useful purposes? (syntheticbiology.org). The convergence of scientific fields such as molecular biology, computer science and others have rendered it a natural progression, based on existing knowledge.The fact that humanity has reached a stage of development where it seems feasible to ?create? life, or design it to a high degree of specificity, is a significant milestone in its history. It generates important ethical questions: Is synthetic biology something good, a natural use of humanity?s talents, or is it a step towards megalomania, playing God, a usurpation of his role? Is it really a natural progression, nature advancing to a state where its products can, in turn, improve nature itself; or does it challenge the dignity of nature by virtue of its ?unnaturalness?? Is it an expression of the creative talen...

A priority paper for the societal and ethical aspects of synthetic biology

Systems and Synthetic Biology, 2009

As synthetic biology develops into a promising science and engineering field, we need to have clear ideas and priorities regarding its safety, security, ethical and public dialogue implications. Based on an extensive literature search, interviews with scientists, social scientists, a 4 week long public e-forum, and consultation with several stakeholders from science, industry and civil society organisations, we compiled a list of priority topics regarding societal issues of synthetic biology for the years ahead. The points presented here are intended to encourage all stakeholders to engage in the prioritisation of these issues and to participate in a continuous dialogue, with the ultimate goal of providing a basis for a multi-stakeholder governance in synthetic biology. Here we show possible ways to solve the challenges to synthetic biology in the field of safety, security, ethics and the science-public interface.

2009_Ethics of Synthetic Biology_EGE_Opinion 25

On May 28, 2008 President José Manuel Barroso asked the EGE to issue an Opinion on the ethical, legal and social implications that may derive from synthetic biology. In his letter, the President advocated that ‘(...) the debate about the legitimacy of engineering new life forms has mainly focused on safety issues and a work on the ethical, legal and social implications that may derive from this specific use of biotechnology is still missing.’ The EGE is aware that synthetic biology raises philosophical, anthropological, ethical, legal, social and scientific issues. It is equally aware that the convergence of multiple technologies in synthetic biology, each based on different scientific paradigms, increases the com- plexity of assessing the ethics of synthetic biology and its products. The EGE has, however, agreed that, apart from safety issues associated with synthetic biology, an ethical, legal, and political governance of synthetic biology is needed in the EU and worldwide to ensure that the interests of society are respected. The Group has therefore accepted President Barroso’s request.

Integrating ethical analysis “Into the DNA” of synthetic biology

Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy, 2014

Current ethical analysis tends to evaluate synthetic biology at an overview level. Synthetic biology, however, is an umbrella term that covers a variety of areas of research. These areas contain, in turn, a hierarchy of different research fields. This abstraction hierarchy-the term is borrowed from engineering-permits synthetic biologists to specialise to a very high degree. Though synthetic biology per se may create profound ethical challenges, much of the day-today research does not. Yet seemingly innocuous research could lead to ethically problematic results. For example, Dolly the sheep resulted from a long series of research steps, none of which presented any ethical problems. The atomic bomb was developed as a result of Einstein's uncontentions theoretical research that proved the equivalence of matter and energy. Therefore it would seem wise for ethicists to evaluate synbio research across its subfields and through its abstraction hierarchies, comparing and interrelating the various areas of research. In addition, it would be useful if journals that publish synbio papers require an ethical statement from authors, as standard practice, so as to encourage scientists to constantly engage with ethical issues in their work. Also, this would allow an ethical snapshot of the state of the research at any given time to exist, allowing for accurate evaluation by scientists and ethicists, regulators and policymakers.