Synthetic Biology for Human Health: Issues for Ethical Discussion and Policy-making

Abstract

Synthetic biology, the application of engineering principles to (re)design and construct novel biological systems and devices, provides an emerging focus for ethical and policy debates on emerging biotechnologies. Happily, no scandal or accident has occurred to give rise to this ethical attention. Rather, it was the researchers themselves who invited the involvement of ethicists, explaining their work and asking for ethical commentary. This proactive stance was fuelled by the intention to avoid another backlash like the one that occurred against some gene technologies. Many consumers have been and are still highly sceptical about genetically modified food, with field trials (for example) regularly being met with public protest. By engaging with the ethical implications of their work early on, many researchers in synthetic biology hoped to prevent such reactions. So far, it looks as if they have been successful, as public attitudes towards synthetic biology are largely positive.