Synthetic Biology Based Biosensors and the Emerging Governance Issues

Abstract

Synthetic biology is a nascent field of applied science that has found applications in diverse areas such as healthcare, energy, agriculture, food additives and industrial chemicals. Its market is estimated to grow to a value of $4.5 billion in 2015. The role of synthetic biology for development of biosensors for biomedical application and its related governance issues have been considered in the present review. The recent developments in the synthetic biology based biosensors as well as critical factors such as biosafety, standardization and proprietary rights for its socioeconomic acceptance have been discussed. Scrutiny of such issues aims to understand the different parameters that can stimulate the growth as well as success of synthetic biology derived biosensors and minimise the associated risk.