http://politicsofhealth.org/wol/2010-05-30.htm
On May 20 the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI) released the following news release.
“ROCKVILLE, MD and San Diego, CA (May 20, 2010)— Researchers at the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI), a not-for-profit genomic research organization, published results today describing the successful construction of the first self-replicating, synthetic bacterial cell. The team synthesized the 1.08 million base pair chromosome of a modified Mycoplasma mycoides genome. The synthetic cell is called Mycoplasma mycoides JCVI-syn1.0 and is the proof of principle that genomes can be designed in the computer, chemically made in the laboratory and transplanted into a recipient cell to produce a new self-replicating cell controlled only by the synthetic genome.”..” The JCVI scientists envision that the knowledge gained by constructing this first self-replicating synthetic cell, coupled with decreasing costs for DNA synthesis, will give rise to wider use of this powerful technology. This will undoubtedly lead to the development of many important applications and products including biofuels, vaccines, pharmaceuticals, clean water and food products. The group continues to drive and support ethical discussion and review to ensure a positive outcome for society.”
Craig Venter who became very well known for being one of the first to sequence the human genome is in recent times involved in the field of synthetic biology (for my earlier columns on synthetic biology see here, here, here and here ). In the 2006 column I stated: ”Synthetic biology is described on the synthetic biology community webpage to mean: (a) the design and construction of new biological parts, devices, and systems; and (b) the re-design of existing, natural biological systems for useful purposes. The very nature of synthetic biology and its envisioned applications makes it an easy target as the next field to converge with NBIC… leading to NBICS.”
We are used to stories that are linked to sequencing genetic material leading to data on possible disease causes and diagnostic tools among others. This now is Genome synthesis and generation of living organisms that are exhibit the synthesised genome. One could see this as something new.
The media attention for sure is vast. Here is just a list of media responses from the last couple of days I think you, the reader might find interesting. They have a wide ranging view. List of articles Original press release, ETC Group, New Scientist , Wired, the Guardian, Friend of the Earth, New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, TechEye, AFP, another Guardian, NPR, Rael, the Telegraph, BBC, Times Online . And there are others.
Decides to convene an ad-hoc technical expert group on synthetic biotechnologies and other new technologies that are used or projected to be used in the next generation of biofuels to assess their impacts on biodiversity and related livelihoods.It also urges
... Parties and other Governments, in accordance with the precautionary approach, to ensure that living organisms produced by synthetic biology are not released into the environment until there is an adequate scientific basis on which to justify such activities and due consideration of the associated risks for the environment and biodiversity, and the associated socio-economic risks, are considered.Another document from the meeting NEW AND EMERGING ISSUES calls for :
...the application of precautionary approach when considering synthetic biology to ensure that there is no field release of synthetic life, cell or genome into the environment until thorough scientific assessments have been conducted in a transparent, open and participatory manner involving all relevant Parties and indigenous and local communities so as to assess unknown consequences on biodiversity, ecosystems and livelihood.All the above information highlights the fact that something seems to be at stake here for both the proponents and opponents of this new technology. As usual the choice is yours to evaluate, to monitor and to get involved.
All of the "The Choice is Yours" articles till June 2009 can be found here, after June 2009 here
Gregor Wolbring is an Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary. He is Affiliated Scholar, Center for Nanotechnology in Society at Arizona State University, USA; Part Time Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa Canada; Adjunct Faculty Critical Disability Studies, York University, Canada. He is a science and technology governance scholar, a disability/vari-ability/ability studies scholar, and a health policy and science and technology studies researcher. He is the Chair of the Bioethics Taskforce of Disabled People's International. He publishes the Bioethics, Culture and Disability website, authors a weblog on NBICS and its social implications and on Ableism and Ability Ethics and Governance and contributes to the What Sorts of People blog.
© Gregor Wolbring, All Rights Reserved, 20010. Please contact the author for permission to reprint.