A Personalist Ontological Approach to Synthetic Biology

Abstract

The repeating subunit of chromatin, the nucleosome, includes two copies of each of the four core histones, and several recent studies have reported that asymmetrically-modified nucleosomes occur at regulatory elements in vivo. To probe the mechanisms by which histone modifications are read out, we designed an obligate pair of H3 heterodimers, termed H3X and H3Y, which we extensively validated genetically and biochemically. Comparing the effects of asymmetric histone tail point mutants with those of symmetric double mutants revealed that a single methylated H3K36 per nucleosome was sufficient to silence cryptic transcription in vivo. We also demonstrate the utility of this system for analysis of histone modification crosstalk, using mass spectrometry to separately identify modifications on each H3 molecule within asymmetric nucleosomes. The ability to generate asymmetric nucleosomes in vivo and in vitro provides a powerful and generalizable tool to probe the mechanisms by which H3 tails are read out by effector proteins in the cell.

Beyond the Organism versus Machine Dichotomy: A Review of Ethical Concerns in Synthetic Biology

“…Sixteen papers discuss the role of media and metaphors in SynBio. ,,,,,,,,,,,− Eleven papers describe the kinds of metaphors used in SynBio and their possible impacts on the development of this technology. ,,,,,,,− While four papers mention that terminology such as “hardware” and “living machines” could be damaging and misleading, ,,, two papers specifically talk about the negative influence computational and machine metaphors can have on societal attitudes and fear of reductionism of life. , Six papers mention that avoiding confusing metaphors and using more accurate metaphors with clear language can help prevent public mistrust, misconceptions, and worries regarding SynBio. ,,,,, …”

Emerging Biosecurity Threats and Responses: A Review of Published and Gray Literature

“…Concerning human modification, genome editing has been proposed as a way to remove undesirable traits from a human population, increase the average cognitive ability of a nation, and enhance combat soldiers by decreasing the need for sleep and food (Esvelt and Millett 2017), all of which have serious equality, security, and societal implications. Gomez-Tatay et al (2016) propose that synthetic biology could be used to "improve humans and to develop what it has been called sub-humans, a kind of humanoid organism which would serve several purposes, such as being sources of transplantable tissues and organs, experimental subjects or crash test dummies and landmine diffusers." While this vision of sub-humans shows potential in improving life and safety for modern humans, it also has clearly negative ethical and societal implications.…”

“…Baskin (2019) stresses that while self-regulation is ideal, scientists should also receive training in the law-making process and how to engage with it so that the scientific community can "become involved throughout the rule-making process to prevent excessive restrictions that are potentially counter-productive to national biosecurity" when legal instruments are unavoidable. According to the literature, training, communication, and self-governance have great potential for addressing biosecurity threats (Engel-Glatter and Ienca 2018;Oeschger and Jenal 2018;Baskin 2019;Gomez-Tatay et al 2016).…”

Regulating the Tyrell Corporation: the Emergence of Novel Beings

“…44 There are also variants on the concept which this critical argument fails to consider; protocell synthetic biology, in particular, aims to produce living organisms from inanimate materials; and if achieved, could be understood as creating life. 45 More recently, The Human Genome Project-Write 46 has presented a definite route towards synthetic humanity, despite the scientists in charge of the project being careful to present their work as not targeting this possibility. 47 The project aims to synthesise an entire human genetic sequence, and to solve the technical challenges and existing limitations in genetic technology to doing so.…”