Eric Myers

Synthetic Biology

“Synthetic biology is a maturing scientific division that combines biology and

engineering in order to build biological systems…” (Witze, A) This could include cancer seeking

microbes released into the body and are designed to fight and kill cancer, help a paralyzed person

walk again. Build photosynthetic organisms designed to produce electricity for the power grid.

This could create an organism that can be put into our cars to take the place of fossil fuels. This

all comes about by creating organisms from scratch and fabricating their DNA to fill our specific

desires. There are many controversial and thought-provoking questions both moral and ethical

that should be answered before proceeding with this technological breakthrough.

This new technology is a powerful tool and can be used for many good things, but is this

moral? When doing research over this topic many opinions on this topic have formed. Many

trustworthy and world-renown scientists and engineers say that his new technology can do

nothing but good. It can help common people in every way. Including medical advances and

even stopping world hunger. As with any opinion, there is an opposing question to be asked. For

example, How can we make sure that synthetic biology is purely beneficial? Or in other terms

how can this new medical approach have no negative side effects, or not impede with the earth's

ecosystem by introducing new species to the environment? Is it moral to tamper with organisms

and their DNA? With new technology, there is almost always pros and cons. But it is important

to make sure the benefits outweigh the costs. For example, if we created an organism that

secreted gasolene but when this gas was burned it would have a hyper allogenic effect on human.

Would we continue to make it even though some people would have an allergic reaction? I

would say yes, as long as there is a cure for those with the allergy.
Eric Myers

Continuing, regulations will need to be placed to make sure that moral standards are

being kept. But before that moral standards need to be set moral questions need to be asked. I

believe these should include: who, what, when, where, why, and how. What is the possible

health effects of this drug we have created? What is a cleaner way to create energy without

environmental backfire? Who will be in charge of all this? Where will this be legal? Why is it

important in today's society? How will this new technology be contained? Some things that i

thing that would not be ok is endangering the lives of humans and animals, and military use. I

believe this because synthetic biology has a lot of potential and evil people are everywhere.

Technology should only be used to help the world become a better place. I, as well as other

scientists, think it is important to ask these questions before any major decisions are made. For

example, the FDA ( Food and Drug Administration) might play a huge role in the regulation of

this new product because of the potential this new science has in the food and drug areas. As

well as the government in general on how all this new technology will be regulated.

Synthetic biology is an up and coming technology with many amazing and seemingly

impossible feats that would help the world become a better place. I firmly believe that is can be

beneficial to our society and the ecosystem. But there are a lot of questions that need to be

answered about this new science before it can be put into regulation.
Eric Myers

Works Cited

All Things Considered – "Synthetic Biology". (2014, May 02). Retrieved from

http://www.biotech-now.org/environmental-industrial/2014/05/all-things-considered-

synthetic-biology

Synthetic Biology Explained. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.bio.org/articles/synthetic-

biology-explained

The evolution and consequences of synthetic biology. (2018, June 29). Retrieved from

https://thebulletin.org/2007/04/the-evolution-and-consequences-of-synthetic-biology/

Witze, A. (2013, January 12). Factory of Life. 22-25.

What is synthetic biology? (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.ebrc.org/what-is-synbio