Playing God in Frankenstein’s Footsteps: Synthetic Biology and the Meaning of Life

Belt, Hendrik van den

doi:10.1007/s11569-009-0079-6

Cited by 72 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…6,7,8 However, in general, there is a paucity of studies on public views of synthetic biology. 9 The few studies extant indicate most people are not aware of this emerging field in the United States 10,11 or in Europe.…”

Section: Context and Objectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Synthetic biology in the Science Café: what have we learned about public engagement?

Navid¹,

Einsiedel²

2012

JCOM

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Context and objectivesEngaging publics in new and emerging science technologies has often presented challenges. People may hold pre-conceived notions that science is too complicated and specialized for them to understand.1 Venues at which science is discussed with the public often take place at formal settings, such as universities and museums, which may be intimidating for some.2 One approach to address these challenges and improve science communication is through the Science Café, or Café Scientifique. These cafés are live forum events that host conversations between scientists and the public about current science topics.3 They are open to everyone and no scientific knowledge is necessary to participate. Science Cafés take place in public gathering places such as coffe e shops, bars, restaurants, bookstores and galleries. 4 These informal venues offer an opportunity to engage members of the public who might not attend a formal lecture.Such informal settings may be appropriate arenas for learning about and discussing emerging and potentially controversial technologies like synthetic biology. This technology spans earlier technology forms, from genetic engineering -which introduces genetic variations in existing biological systemsto more complex approaches involving the construction of new biological parts and systems which do not occur in nature. The process of engineering biology on that far end of the spectrum could result in a 'manmade organism', such as that announced in 2010 by Craig Venter, when he unveiled the first synthetic cell completely comprised of man-made instructions that could replicate.5 Not surprisingly, such scientific advancements have generated charges of 'playing God' and tampering with nature. 6,7,8 However, in general, there is a paucity of studies on public views of synthetic biology. 9 The few studies extant indicate most people are not aware of this emerging field in the United States 10,11 or in Europe. 12In the U.S., a poll of 1000 adults was conducted by Hart Research Associates and the Synthetic Biology Project at the Woodrow Wilson Institute in 2010. They found that 26% of adults had heard about synthetic biology and two-thirds think that synthetic biology should move forward, with more research to study its possible effects on humans and the environment. 13 Additionally, the survey revealed that more attention needs to be paid to addressing biosafety and biosecurity risks of this technology and that government and industry need to engage the public more about the science, its application and its benefits and risks.

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Section: Context and Objectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Synthetic biology in the Science Café: what have we learned about public engagement?

Navid¹,

Einsiedel²

2012

JCOM

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“…• Creating artificial life: The engineering-driven approach of understanding living organisms raised moral concerns about the possibility that artificial life might be created 25 and that this could amount to interference with nature [10,23,24]. Some ethicists argue Societal impact of synthetic biology: responsible research and innovation 6 that living organisms have a moral status, meaning that they should be treated differently from mere things: for such positions, synthetic biology raises the question of whether this status may be affected by the artificial nature of these organisms [25,26,27].…”

Section: Concerns About "Unnatural Life"mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The question 'What is life?' can be interpreted differentlyreferring to a variety of philosophical, religious or scientific concepts [24,28,29].…”

Section: Concerns About "Unnatural Life"mentioning

confidence: 99%

Societal impact of synthetic biology: responsible research and innovation (RRI)

Gregorowius

Deplazes‐Zemp

2016

Essays in Biochemistry

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Synthetic biology is an emerging field at the interface between biology and engineering, which has generated many expectations for beneficial biomedical and biotechnological applications. At the same time, however, it has also raised concerns about risks or the aim of producing new forms of living organisms. Researchers from different disciplines as well as policymakers and the general public have expressed the need for a form of technology assessment that not only deals with technical aspects, but also includes societal and ethical issues. A recent and very influential model of technology assessment that tries to implement these aims is known as RRI (Responsible Research and Innovation). In this paper, we introduce this model and its historical precursor strategies. Based on the societal and ethical issues which are presented in the current literature, we discuss challenges and opportunities of applying the RRI model for the assessment of synthetic biology. AbstractSynthetic biology is an emerging field at the interface between biology and engineering, which has generated many expectations for beneficial biomedical and biotechnological applications. At the same time, however, it has also raised concerns about risks and benefits 5 or about the aim of producing new forms of living organisms. Researchers from different disciplines as well as policy makers and the general public have expressed the need for a form of technology assessment that does not only deal with technical aspects, but also includes societal and ethical issues. A recent and very influential model of technology assessment that tries to implement these aims is known as RRI ("Responsible Research and Innovation"). In 10 this paper we introduce this model and its historical precursor strategies. Based on the societal and ethical issues which are presented in the current literature, we discuss challenges and opportunities of applying the RRI model for the assessment of synthetic biology.

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“…Cada vez que la ciencia amenaza con traspasar alguna de las fronteras culturalmente sancionadas como la que divide el mundo en las categorías de lo natural y lo artificial o entre lo evolucionado y lo diseñado, los científicos son acusados de jugar a ser dioses (Van Den Belt, 2009). aparentemente, los biólogos sintéticos encarnan este rol con particular dramatismo, pues amenazan con profanar el misterio de la vida, el último refugio de la fe.…”

Section: La Imposibilidad De Liberarse Del Pasadounclassified

¿Tiene futuro la vida sin pasado? El desdén de la evolución en biología sintética

Rosa

2016

Isegoría

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rESuMEN. La biología sintética mantiene una relación muy singular con la teoría evolutiva: por un lado, parte de una interpretación ingenieril de la evolución para fundar su aproximación al diseño de bioartefactos; por otro, la biología sintética aspira, en última instancia, a deshacerse de la evolución creando organismos de novo que se comporten de un modo predecible. Tras examinar las tres grandes propiedades que aparecen recurrentemente en la descripción sintética de los nuevos artefactos orgánicos (su caracterización como sistemas modulares, computables y producto del diseño), argumentaré que la biología sintética se erige sobre una concepción de los organismos y en particular de la relación de estos con su legado histórico que ha sido profundamente cuestionada por la biología evolucionista contemporánea.Palabras clave: Biología sintética; teoría evolutiva; modularidad; diseño; evolucionabilidad aBSTraCT. Synthetic biology has a singular relation to evolutionary theory. on the one hand, synthetic biology is founded on an engineering interpretation of evolution. on the other hand, bioengineers aspire to free themselves from evolution by building organisms 'from scratch' that behave in a predictable way. In this article, I will examine the main properties of the synthetic characterisation of bioartifacts, namely their characterisation as (1) modular and (2) computable systems which are (3) the product of design. I will argue that synthetic biology is founded on a conception of organisms and their relation with their historical legacy which has been deeply challenged by contemporary evolutionary biology.

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Playing God in Frankenstein’s Footsteps: Synthetic Biology and the Meaning of Life

Cited by 72 publications

References 23 publications

Synthetic biology in the Science Café: what have we learned about public engagement?

Synthetic biology in the Science Café: what have we learned about public engagement?

Societal impact of synthetic biology: responsible research and innovation (RRI)

¿Tiene futuro la vida sin pasado? El desdén de la evolución en biología sintética

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