Publications

Publications/Reports related to Synthetic Biology

Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues: New Directions: The Ethics of Synthetic Biology and Emerging Technologies.

BBSRC Synthetic Biology Workshop report 8-9th February 2007

Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology: Analysis of public policy issues related to synthetic biology.

BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Dialogue: This report presents the findings of a series of public workshops and stakeholder interviews on the science and issues surrounding synthetic biology.

Institution of Engineering and Technology: E&T Magazine: Special issue focussing on synthetic biology.

Royal Academy of Enginnering: Synthetic Biology: Scope, applications and implications.

Royal Academy of Enginnering: Synthetic Biology: Public dialogue on synthetic biology.

Royal Society: Synthetic Biology: Scientific discussion meeting summary.

BBSRC: "Synthetic Biology Social and Ethical Challenges", A. Balmer and P. Martin.

The Parliamentary Office on Science and Technology - Postnote on Synthetic Biology

The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology produced a Postnote on Synthetic Biology. This helps put into context recent developments, the benefits and possible risks associated with synthetic biology together with the policy options for the development and governance of the research.

Synthetic Biology could raise some concerns regarding ethics, bio security, bio safety, ownership of intellectual property and question the motivation of stakeholders. Concern is also been raised regarding the lack of proper regulation both within the Scientific Community and by governments Worldwide.

Synthetic Biology Dialogue Report

To address public opinion the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) initiated a project to develop a dialogue with the public regarding their concerns and aspirations for this emerging field. (These institutions invest over a billion pounds of public money annually in the engineering, physical and biosciences with a clear strategic focus on improving the quality of life in the UK)

The findings of the Synthetic Biology Dialogue Report were published at a launch event in London on 14 June 2010.

The report presents the findings of a series of public workshops and stakeholder interviews on the science and issues surrounding synthetic biology. The Project took place during 2009-2010 and was carried out by the TNS-BMRB, BBSRC, EPSRC with the support of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills Sciencewise programme.

The public can see the enormous potential of science but are concerned about the speed of progress, regulation and the risks of synthetic biology to health and the environment. In the future Research Councils will have to consider the technical and ethical issues connected to research and reflect on the motivation and leadership within the scientific community. Although International co-ordination of regulation was raised, in the context of technical advances in a global economy the challenges faced will make this difficult to implement. More information is available here.

A Synthetic Biology Overview Reportwas published in February 2011 which gives a summary of the key findings.

Networks in Synthetic Biology

RoSBNet is one of seven Synthetic Biology Networks funded by four Research Councils, the EPSRC, the BBSRC, the AHRC and the ESRC. The aim of these networks is to establish communication and networking between researchers to share ideas, and encourage creative approaches to meet future challenges. This also allows the opportunity to build international multidisciplinary partnerships to attract research funding opportunities. The seven networks are:

• RoSBNet From Robust Synthetic Biological Parts to Whole Systems: Theoretical, Practical and Ethical Challenges
• Synthetic Components Network: Towards Synthetic Biology From The Bottom Up
• SPPI - Net A Network for Synthetic Plant Products for Industry
• Standards for the Design and Engineering of modular biological devices
• Synbion: The UCL Network in Synthetic Biology
• MATE’s: Microbial Applications To Tissue engineering, An Exemplar Synthetic Biology
• SynBiont: A Synthetic Biology Network for Modelling and Programming Cell-Chell Interactions

Apart from these networks, the following activities are ongoing:

• International Association Synthetic Biology (IASB) - Concerned with the scientific and economic prospects of synthetic biology, as well as with the bioethical and biosecurity questions it raises. IASB published a code of conduct in 2009.
• ERASynBio - An EU FP7 ERA-NET for the development and coordination of Synthetic Biology in the European Research Area
• SYNBIOSAFE Project – An EC-FP6 project which researched the safety and ethical aspects of synthetic biology, aiming to proactively stimulate a debate on these issues. The project website has links to various publications and a list of other European synthetic biology projects.
• Synthetic Biology Engineering Research Center (SynBERC) - a multi-institution research effort based in the US.
• Synthetic Biology Community – An online group of individuals, groups and labs from various institutions. The website has links to their labs, projects, courses and online tools.
• Flowers Consortium - A collaboration between five universities (Imperial College London, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Newcastle and King's College London) to establish a platform technology based on an information system - SynBIS - which uses a web-based environment.

The Synthetic Biology Special Interest Group

A Synthetic Biology Special Interest Group (SynBio-SIG) has been established as a link between the UK's research base and the relevant industrial communities. Its aim is to ensure that the UK's world-leading synthetic biology research can be translated and developed into commercial applications.

A Strategic Roadmap for Synthetic Biology in the UK

A UK roadmap for Synthetic Biology, produced by an independent panel of experts for the government's Department for Business Innovation and Skills, was published in July 2012 in order to develop 'a roadmap that defines the likely timeframe and actions required to establish a world leading Synthetic Biology industry within the UK.'

Core themes

Five core themes emerged from this work. They were:

• Foundational science and engineering: the need for sufficient capabilities for the UK to maintain a leading edge
• Continuing responsible research and innovation: including the need for awareness, training and adherence to regulatory frameworks
• Developing technology for commercial use
• Applications and markets: identifying growth markets and developing applications
• International cooperation

Key recommendations

To achieve these themes, five key recommendations were outlined:

• Invest in a network of multidisciplinary centres to establish an outstanding UK synthetic biology resource.
• Build a skilled, energised and well-funded UK-wide synthetic biology community [for example, via the Synthetic Biology Special Interest Group].
• Invest to accelerate technology responsibly to market.
• Assume a leading international role.
• Establish a leadership council

Synthetic Biology Leadership Council

As part of the recommendations of the Synthetic Biology roadmap for the UK, the UK Government established a Synthetic Biology Leadership Council (SBLC) as a steering structure governance body that can assess progress, update recommendations and shape priorities for future implementation of the synthetic biology roadmap for the UK.

The SBLC will provide a visible point for strategic coordination between the funding agencies, the research community, industry, government sponsors and other stakeholders, including societal and ethical representatives.

Click here for more details.