Working with bacteria and putting bacteria to work: The biopolitics of synthetic biology for energy in the United Kingdom

Abstract

The UK government has made significant investment into so called ‘fourth-generation’ biofuel technologies. These biofuels are based on engineering the metabolic pathways of bacteria in order to create products compatible with existing infrastructure. Bacteria play an important role in what is promoted as a potentially new biological industrial revolution, which could address some of the negative environmental legacies of the last. This article presents results from ethnographic research with synthetic biologists who are challenged with balancing the curiosity-driven and intrinsically fulfilling scientific task of working with bacteria, alongside the policy-driven task of putting bacteria to work for extrinsic economic gains. In addition, the scientists also have to balance these demands with a new research governance framework, Responsible Research and Innovation, which envisions technoscientific innovation will be responsive to societal concerns and work in collaboration with stakeholders and members of the public. Major themes emerging from the ethnographic research revolve around stewardship, care, responsibility and agency. An overall conflict surfaces between individual agents assuming responsibility for ‘stewarding’ bacteria, against funding systems and structures imposing responsibility for economic growth. We discuss these findings against the theoretical backdrop of a new concept of ‘energopolitics’ and an anthropology of ethics and responsibility.

A feeling for the (micro)organism? Yeastiness, organism agnosticism and whole genome synthesis

“…Other STS work finds similar apparent contractions in the relationships between scientists and microorganisms. For example, McLeod, Nerlich, and Mohr (2017), in another study of synthetic biology, describe how bacteria are conceptualized both as "machines or tools (useful for creating wealth) and as personified agents (that deserve care and respect)" (6). And Lorimer's (2017) investigation of the hookworma microbe sometimes found in the human gutshows that it can be simultaneously regarded as a dangerous parasite and an "old friend" (6) essential for proper immune functioning.…”

Introduction: The ethical constitution of energy dilemmas

“…As many anthropologists have heeded Laura Nader's () early call to study energy experts and other professionals (see, e.g., McLeod & Nerlich ; Newberry ; Özden‐Schilling ; ), it is important to note that far less attention has been directed towards rank‐and‐file labourers (see High, this volume; Smith, this volume; also Atabaki, Bini & Ehsani ; Ehsani : 21). The critiques that have been advanced against corporate and state power have largely ignored the very people who make up these institutions.…”

Biofuel Application as a Factor of Sustainable Development Ensuring: The Case of Russia

“…Among the features of which is the application of technological principles involving the creation of specialized genetic engineered constructions, modifications of microorganism complexes, etc. [45,47]. The main steps of technological evolution in BF production are presented in Figure 2.…”

“…Scheme of the main steps made during the technological evolution in biofuel (BF) production. G1-first generation technologies [30][31][32][48][49][50][51][52]; G2-second generation technologies [34,39,49,52]; G3-third generation technologies [36,[40][41][42][53][54][55]; G4-fourth generation technologies [45,47].…”