Synthetic biology paradigms and their policy interactions may restrict future knowledge and benefits from the field

Synthetic biology paradigms and their policy interactions may restrict future knowledge and benefits from the field

A perspective published in the Biotechnology Journal points to tensions and possible pitfalls that may arise from basing the goals of synthetic biology to an excessive extent on notions of engineering and application, as well as from the policy interactions such an approach may have. The article provides reasons to suggest that the result may be an unidimensional, ‘confined’ development of the field that could narrow down horizons of future knowledge as well as the chances for new applications and benefits from synthetic biology in the long term.

Frank et al. (2015) Synthetic biology's self-fulfilling prophecy – dangers of confinement from within and outside. Biotechnol J. Article first published online: 16 DEC 2014. DOI: 10.1002/biot.201400477

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/enhanced/doi/10.1002/biot.201400477/