Ethical framework on risk governance of synthetic biology
Synthetic biology is an emerging multidisciplinary field that aims to design and construct new biological systems not found in nature. Whereas synthetic biology may yield tremendous benefits, it may also pose substantial risks to human health and the environment that must be addressed. In this paper...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Biosafety and Biosecurity |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2588933823000201 |
| _version_ | 1797780022992306176 |
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| author | Liao Bohua Wang Yuexin Ou Yakun Zuo Kunlan Liu Huan Lei Ruipeng |
| author_facet | Liao Bohua Wang Yuexin Ou Yakun Zuo Kunlan Liu Huan Lei Ruipeng |
| author_sort | Liao Bohua |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Synthetic biology is an emerging multidisciplinary field that aims to design and construct new biological systems not found in nature. Whereas synthetic biology may yield tremendous benefits, it may also pose substantial risks to human health and the environment that must be addressed. In this paper, we examined the environmental risks associated with synthetic biology, including changes to or depletion of the environment, competition with native species, horizontal gene transfer, pathogenicity or toxicity, bioterrorism, and laboratory biosecurity. We highlight three approaches for assessing environmental risks in synthetic biology: solution-focused risk assessment, Bayesian networks, and network of networks for sustainable capacity building. An ethical governance framework is proposed to facilitate innovation while minimising risks. This framework emphasises the precautionary principle and balancing stakeholder interests prior to project development and commercialisation. Overall, we underscore the importance and urgency of assessing and managing the environmental risks of synthetic biology to ensure its safe and ethical development and application. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T23:38:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6ec0e2df39064ea4b14491128c3bda8d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2588-9338 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T23:38:47Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Biosafety and Biosecurity |
| spelling | doaj.art-6ec0e2df39064ea4b14491128c3bda8d2023-07-15T04:29:04ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Journal of Biosafety and Biosecurity2588-93382023-06-01524556Ethical framework on risk governance of synthetic biologyLiao Bohua0Wang Yuexin1Ou Yakun2Zuo Kunlan3Liu Huan4Lei Ruipeng5Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, ChinaHuazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, ChinaHuazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, ChinaUniversity of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, ChinaUniversity of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan 430072, China; Corresponding authors.Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China; Center for Ethics Governance of Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China; Corresponding authors.Synthetic biology is an emerging multidisciplinary field that aims to design and construct new biological systems not found in nature. Whereas synthetic biology may yield tremendous benefits, it may also pose substantial risks to human health and the environment that must be addressed. In this paper, we examined the environmental risks associated with synthetic biology, including changes to or depletion of the environment, competition with native species, horizontal gene transfer, pathogenicity or toxicity, bioterrorism, and laboratory biosecurity. We highlight three approaches for assessing environmental risks in synthetic biology: solution-focused risk assessment, Bayesian networks, and network of networks for sustainable capacity building. An ethical governance framework is proposed to facilitate innovation while minimising risks. This framework emphasises the precautionary principle and balancing stakeholder interests prior to project development and commercialisation. Overall, we underscore the importance and urgency of assessing and managing the environmental risks of synthetic biology to ensure its safe and ethical development and application.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2588933823000201Synthetic biologyEthical frameworkBiosafetyPrecautionary principleEnvironmental risks |
| spellingShingle | Liao Bohua Wang Yuexin Ou Yakun Zuo Kunlan Liu Huan Lei Ruipeng Ethical framework on risk governance of synthetic biology Journal of Biosafety and Biosecurity Synthetic biology Ethical framework Biosafety Precautionary principle Environmental risks |
| title | Ethical framework on risk governance of synthetic biology |
| title_full | Ethical framework on risk governance of synthetic biology |
| title_fullStr | Ethical framework on risk governance of synthetic biology |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ethical framework on risk governance of synthetic biology |
| title_short | Ethical framework on risk governance of synthetic biology |
| title_sort | ethical framework on risk governance of synthetic biology |
| topic | Synthetic biology Ethical framework Biosafety Precautionary principle Environmental risks |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2588933823000201 |
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