Difference between revisions of "Synthetic biology"

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[[File:too shallow.png|left|72px]]'''This page is too shallow.'''<br/> {{{1|It only has the [[official narrative]] and needs a more skeptical, [[deep political]] perspective.}}}</div>{{concept
 
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|description=An area of research that seeks to create new biological parts, devices, and systems, or to redesign systems that are already found in nature. This contrasts with "traditional" [[genetically modified organism]]s created by transferring existing genes from one cell type to another.  
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|description=An area of research that claims to be able to create new biological parts, devices, and systems, or to redesign systems that are already found in nature. This contrasts with "traditional" [[genetically modified organism]]s created by transferring existing genes from one cell type to another.  
 
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'''Synthetic biology''' ('''SynBio''') is an area of research that seeks to create new biological parts, devices, and systems, or to redesign systems that are already found in nature. This contrasts with "traditional" [[genetically modified organism]]s created by transferring existing genes from one cell type to another.  
 
'''Synthetic biology''' ('''SynBio''') is an area of research that seeks to create new biological parts, devices, and systems, or to redesign systems that are already found in nature. This contrasts with "traditional" [[genetically modified organism]]s created by transferring existing genes from one cell type to another.  
  
Major goals of synthetic biology include re-designing genes, cells, or organisms for [[gene therapy]]; development of [[minimal cell]]s and artificial [[protocell]]s; and development of organisms based on [[Xenobiology|alternative biochemistry]].<ref name=":0">https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2017/01/24/synthetic-biology/</ref>  
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==Official narrative==
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Biology claims to be able to re-designing genes, cells, or organisms for [[gene therapy]]; development of [[minimal cell]]s and artificial [[protocell]]s; and development of organisms based on [[Xenobiology|alternative biochemistry]].<ref name=":0">https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2017/01/24/synthetic-biology/</ref>  
  
 
This work has been driven by the development of [[Artificial gene synthesis|genome synthesis]] and [[CRISPR gene editing|editing tools]], as well as pools of standardized [[synthetic biological circuit]]s with defined functions. The availability of these tools has spurred the expansion of a [[do-it-yourself biology]] movement.<ref name=":3">https://publications.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/bfd7d06c-d3ae-11e5-a4b5-01aa75ed71a1/language-en</ref>
 
This work has been driven by the development of [[Artificial gene synthesis|genome synthesis]] and [[CRISPR gene editing|editing tools]], as well as pools of standardized [[synthetic biological circuit]]s with defined functions. The availability of these tools has spurred the expansion of a [[do-it-yourself biology]] movement.<ref name=":3">https://publications.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/bfd7d06c-d3ae-11e5-a4b5-01aa75ed71a1/language-en</ref>
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Due to more powerful [[genetic engineering]] capabilities and decreased DNA synthesis and [[DNA sequencing|sequencing costs]], the field of synthetic biology is rapidly growing. In 2016, more than 350 companies across 40 countries were actively engaged in synthetic biology applications; all these companies had an estimated net worth of $3.9 billion in the global market.<ref>https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.tibtech.2017.02.002 Bueso, F. Y.; Tangney, M. (2017). "Synthetic Biology in the Driving Seat of the Bioeconomy". Trends in Biotechnology. 35 (5): 373–378.</ref>
 
Due to more powerful [[genetic engineering]] capabilities and decreased DNA synthesis and [[DNA sequencing|sequencing costs]], the field of synthetic biology is rapidly growing. In 2016, more than 350 companies across 40 countries were actively engaged in synthetic biology applications; all these companies had an estimated net worth of $3.9 billion in the global market.<ref>https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.tibtech.2017.02.002 Bueso, F. Y.; Tangney, M. (2017). "Synthetic Biology in the Driving Seat of the Bioeconomy". Trends in Biotechnology. 35 (5): 373–378.</ref>
  
=== Biosecurity ===
 
[[File:Polio EM PHIL 1875 lores.PNG|thumb|[[Poliovirus]] was among the first virus genomes synthesized from scratch and used to create viruses capable of infection. This has led to concern that it and other infectious viruses could be manufactured for harmful purposes.<ref name=":7" />{{Rp|39}}]]
 
The rise of synthetic biology has also spurred [[biosecurity]] concerns that synthetic or redesigned organisms could be engineered for [[bioterrorism]]<ref name=":0" />, but given the resources needed to perform this kind of research it could only be done by a government or very rich people. However, synthetic biology could expand the group of people with relevant capabilities, and reduce the amount of time needed to develop them.<ref name=":7" />{{Rp|2–7}}
 
 
A 2018 [[National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine]] (NASEM) report identified three capabilities as being of greatest concern. The first is the recreation of known pathogens from scratch, for example using [[genome synthesis]] to [[Synthetic virology|recreate historical viruses]] such as the [[Spanish flu|Spanish Flu virus]] or [[Poliovirus|polio virus]]<ref>http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr944.pdf</ref>. Current technology allows genome synthesis for almost any mammalian virus, the sequences of known human viruses are publicly available, and the procedure has relatively low cost and requires access to basic laboratory equipment. However, the pathogens would have known properties and could be mitigated by standard public health measures, and could be partially prevented by screening of commercially produced DNA molecules. In contrast to viruses, creating existing bacteria or completely novel pathogens from scratch was not yet possible as of 2018, and was considered a low risk.<ref name=":7">https://doi.org/10.17226%2F24890  Biodefense in the Age of Synthetic Biology. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2018-06-19. ISBN 9780309465182. </ref>{{Rp|39–43, 54–56}}
 
 
Another capability of concern cited by NASEM is engineering existing pathogens to be more dangerous. This includes altering the [[Host tropism|targeted host]] or [[Tissue tropism|tissue]], as well as enhancing the pathogen's replication, [[virulence]], [[Transmissibility (epidemiology)|transmissibility]], or stability; or its ability to produce toxins, reactivate from a dormant state, evade natural or vaccine-induced immunity, or evade detection. The NASEM considered engineered bacteria to be a higher risk than viruses because they are easier to manipulate and their genomes are more stable over time.<ref name=":7" />{{Rp|5, 44–53}}
 
 
A final capability of concern cited by NASEM is engineering microbes to produce harmful biochemicals. [[Metabolic engineering]] of microorganisms is a well established field that has targeted production of fuels, chemicals, food ingredients, and pharmaceuticals, but it could be used to produce [[toxin]]s, [[antimetabolite]]s, [[controlled substance]]s, [[explosive]]s, or [[chemical weapon]]s. This was considered to be a higher risk for naturally occurring substances than for artificial ones.<ref name=":7" />{{Rp|59–65}}
 
 
There is also the possibility of novel threats that were considered lower risks by NASEM due to their technical challenges. Delivery of an engineered organism into the [[Human microbiota|human microbiome]] has the challenges of delivery and persistence in the microbiome, though an attack would be difficult to detect and mitigate. Pathogens engineered to alter the human immune system by causing [[immunodeficiency]], [[Hypersensitivity|hyperreactivity]], or [[autoimmunity]], or to directly alter the human genome, were also considered lower-risk due to extreme technical challenges.<ref name=":7" />{{Rp|65–83}}
 
 
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==References==
 
==References==
 
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{{PageCredit
 
|site=Wikipedia
 
|date=17.08.2021
 
|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazards_of_synthetic_biology
 
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Latest revision as of 11:53, 28 March 2024

Too shallow.png
This page is too shallow.
It only has the official narrative and needs a more skeptical, deep political perspective.

Concept.png Synthetic biology
(medical technology,  biotechnology)Rdf-entity.pngRdf-icon.png
Humberto-1.jpg
Interest of• Ginkgo Bioworks
• Craig Venter
An area of research that claims to be able to create new biological parts, devices, and systems, or to redesign systems that are already found in nature. This contrasts with "traditional" genetically modified organisms created by transferring existing genes from one cell type to another.

Synthetic biology (SynBio) is an area of research that seeks to create new biological parts, devices, and systems, or to redesign systems that are already found in nature. This contrasts with "traditional" genetically modified organisms created by transferring existing genes from one cell type to another.

Official narrative

Biology claims to be able to re-designing genes, cells, or organisms for gene therapy; development of minimal cells and artificial protocells; and development of organisms based on alternative biochemistry.[1]

This work has been driven by the development of genome synthesis and editing tools, as well as pools of standardized synthetic biological circuits with defined functions. The availability of these tools has spurred the expansion of a do-it-yourself biology movement.[2]

Synthetic biology has potential commercial applications in energy, agriculture, medicine, and the production of chemicals including pharmaceuticals.[1]

Due to more powerful genetic engineering capabilities and decreased DNA synthesis and sequencing costs, the field of synthetic biology is rapidly growing. In 2016, more than 350 companies across 40 countries were actively engaged in synthetic biology applications; all these companies had an estimated net worth of $3.9 billion in the global market.[3]


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