08 May Synthetic Biology – The Next Thing?

The New York Times reported today that scientists are working on a variety of fascinating and, at times, controversial projects in the burgeoning field of synthetic biology. What is that?  Wikipedia says, “It is an area of biological research and technology that combines biology and engineering, thus often overlapping with bioengineering and biomedical engineering.” Others simply say that it’s a way of creating new living things.

The article, for example, focuses on a group of scientists funded solely through donations on a crowdfunding site. The scientists think they can develop a tree that glows, enough to possibly replace street lights (eventually). The other cool thing is these guys are doing it on their own, not through a major university or research lab. They have, however, been attacked by environmental groups. The concern, apparently, is that the ability to create new living things risks creating nasty and horrible new living things. The US Agriculture Department regulates genetically altered crops, but it’s not clear if they have jurisdiction here. The article suggests that synthetic biology is very similar to genetic engineering, since both deal with a transfer of DNA. You’ve just heard the most of the science part of this that I understand.

There is some potentially exciting stuff that can come of all the work being done following completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003. There seems to be lots more coming, including in the biofuels space, such as a company working on making ethanol directly from carbon dioxide, water, sunlight and modified algae. Some thought leaders, though, are already suggesting that the current regulatory environment relating to these Brave New World concepts needs to be examined to see if it needs to catch up to the glowing tree scientist types. One could certainly surmise the nefarious use of these opportunities. But hopefully freedom to develop and market helpful and safe new things can be encouraged and supported. We’ll keep watching!