November 2015 What is Synthetic Biology? What are its implications? The rapid emergence and commercialization of Synthetic Biology as a new
production technique has far-reaching social, ecological and human rights
implications for which no regulatory structure or democratic oversight exists. After 40 years the already controversial field of genetic engineering is now upgrading to become
‘Synthetic Biology’ (or “Syn Bio”). This term describes a new set of biotech tools and techniques that
allow companies to build designer lifeforms from scratch, to “edit” their DNA and “programme” them for
industrial tasks. A multi-billion dollar synthetic biology industry is now partnering with the largest food,
cosmetic, fuel and chemical giants to create a disruptive new production platform: Yeast, algae and other
microbes are re-engineered to excrete food ingredients, flavourings, fragrances, industrial chemicals and
other high value compounds. The rush to develop and commercialize Syn Bio products, processes and
patents is taking place in the absence of democratic oversight, safeguard, regulation and governance
structures. Just as the switch to digital media had far reaching implications for economic, social and
cultural rights, this new switch to what is sometimes called ‘digital biology’ brings a suite of emerging
challenges.
Livelihoods, Production and Commodities:
Synthetic Biology has been described as ‘3D printing for chemicals’ or ‘bio-manufacturing’. Vats of
engineered microbes can now produce synthetic versions of raw materials that were typically produced by
farmers and plantation workers. High value commodities that may be replaced by Syn Bio include
flavours (such as vanilla, patchouli and saffron), tropical oils (palm and coconut), replacements for meat
and dairy, sweeteners, animal feed and medical compounds. The livelihoods of millions of farmers and
the economies of some agriculturally-dependent nations may be at stake. These developments will impact
directly on the situation of workers in food processing and other manufacturing sectors as well as on land
rights and the viability of agro-ecological systems.
Ecological Risks:
Synthetic Biology transforms living organisms in more fundamental ways than previous technology.
While the field aims to ‘predictably’ re-programme living organisms as if they were machines, in reality
living systems are not mechanical and can behave in unexpected ways when genetically altered. The
prospect of releasing synthetically-engineered organisms into the environment raises significant biosafety
risks. Additionally synthetic biology allows for creation of ‘gene drives’ - a technology to alter or
eradicate entire populations of species. Gene drives could cause havoc with ecosystems and the food
supply. In the new production systems engineered, microbes feed off sugar, cellulose or natural gas driving further extraction of these natural resources.
Peace and Security:
Being able to quickly manufacture designer organisms provides a greater capacity to develop bioweapons,
sensors and battlefield materials. The US military is now emerging as one of the largest funders of
synthetic biology development, developing robust engineered organisms for environmental release as well
as to produce compounds of military interest. Syn Bio gene drive systems could be appropriated for
hostile attacks on agriculture or to spread sickness.
Intellectual Property and Corporate Concentration:
Legal battles are growing between corporations vying to control key synthetic biology and genome
editing technologies. Ownership of these techniques could grant monopoly control across several
industrial sectors including food, textiles, pharmaceuticals, fuels and chemicals. Movements for ‘open
source biology’ and ‘biohacking’ are attempting to create patent-free commons in synthetic biology.
Meanwhile the ability to digitally mix and remix DNA means that the biopiracy of genetic materials from
traditional and indigenous communities can now be implemented faster (digital biopiracy).
Oversight for Synthetic Life:
Few regulators and international agencies have yet begun to engage with the implications of Synthetic
Biology or established means to assess and control the proliferating number of products flowing from Syn
Bio labs. The term "Synthetic Biology" is now becoming formally defined in the European Union and
through the UN Convention On Biological Diversity (CBD). In October 2014 the CDB agreed a landmark
set of decisions towards addressing the biodiversity implications of the field, urging nations to update
regulations and apply the precautionary approach. Synthetic Biology is relevant to a number of the UN’s
Sustainable Development Goals and could be directly considered by the new Technology Facilitation
Mechanism of the United Nations. There has also been a limited consideration of synthetic biology
Definition:
“Synthetic Biology is a further development and new dimension of modern biotechnology that
combines science, technology and engineering to facilitate and accelerate the understanding,
design, redesign, manufacture and/or modification of genetic materials , living organisms and
biological systems”
- Operational Definition developed by the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Synthetic Biology
of the UN Convention On Biological Diversity. Montreal, September 2015.
related topics within the World Health Organization and the Biological and Toxic Weapons Convention.
For more information:
http://www.etcgroup.org/issues/synthetic-biology
http://www.synbiowatch.org
Online introductory video (10 mins): http://www.etcgroup.org/synthetic_biology_explained