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Single Gene Swap Helps Bird Flu Virus Switch Hosts
(Web Page on Another Site)
The article by Martin Enserink published on 2 May 2013 in Science Magazine explains how scientist have modified the H5N1 virus to create a potentially dangerous virus that could cause a pandemic.
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Ethical and Policy Problems in Synthetic Biology: Emergent Behaviors of Integrated Cellular Systems (EBICS)
(Web Page on this Site)
Open-Ended Scenario
This problem was given to students as part of a course on problem based learning (PBL) using fractious problems. It asked them to consider the ethical and policy issues surrounding developments in synthetic biology. Students were asked to apply six skills in analyzing and devising policy resolutions for the problems and to apply PBL skills in doing so.
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'Frankenstein's Cat': Bioengineering The Animals Of The Future
(Web Page on Another Site)
This page on NPR recounts an interview by Terry Gross with journalist Emily Anthes author of Frankenstein's Cat: Cuddling up to Biotech's Brave New Beasts that aired on March 11, 2013, Anthens discusses a number of potentially troubling developments in bioengineering from insect cyborgs to goats genetically engineered to provide high-protein milk and pigs farmed specifically to grow organs for human transplantation.
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H5N1 Researchers Ready as Moratorium Nears End
(Web Page on Another Site)
This article by David Malakoff appeared in Science in January 2013. It describes the outcomes of the year-long moratorium on publication of H5N1 research that consumed most of 2012.
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Bridging Science and Security for Biological Research: A Discussion about Dual Use Review and Oversight at Research Institutions
(Web Page on Another Site)
This report on dual-use research review and oversight was released by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Association of American Universities (AAU), Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in September 2012. It describes best practices and lessons learned from existing, voluntary dual-use review and oversight programs and lists outstanding challenges and policy solutions for review and oversight of dual-use life sciences research.
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Synthetic Biology Oversight (PER News Report)
(Web Page on this Site)
In mid-March, 2012 the Principles for the Oversight of Synthetic Biology was released and endorsed by a coalition of 111 organizations from around the world [1]. This publication is the first attempt to establish international oversight guidelines for the biological sciences. The publication focuses primarily on providing general, guiding principles for the regulation of synthetic biology. It does not, however, propose a specific implementation framework for the principles. Principally, this publication is intended as a first step in establishing more formal regulatory guidelines for synthetic biology.
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The Governance of Synthetic Biology: Are We Making Progress?
(Web Page on this Site)
WASHINGTON (Feb. 8, 2012) – The Synthetic Biology Project at the Woodrow Wilson Center is launching a new web-based Synthetic Biology Scorecard, designed to track federal and non-federal efforts to improve the governance of synthetic biology research and development so risks are minimized and broad social and economic benefits can be realized.
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Activities and Resources on Biosecurity from Academies and Scientific Unions
(Resource Collection)
This list of links was originally compiled by the Global Network of Science Academies. It includes biosecurity resources from around the world.
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Ethics: A Weapon to Counter Bioterrorism
(Web Page on Another Site)
This Policy Forum article by Margaret Somerville and Ronald Atlas was published in Science Magazine in 2005. It proposes an ethical code to provide guidance for "scientists, physicians, scientific institutions, and others engaged in research and development in the life sciences throughout the world."
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United States Government Policy for Oversight of Life Sciences Dual Use Research of Concern
(Web Page on Another Site)
As a federal advisory panel met to review the controversial recommendation to partly censor two papers that examined the transmissibility of the bird-flu virus, the federal government issued another policy to restrict use of information by terrorists. All government agencies were given two months to review any financed biology research for the risk of harmful use. Projects are to be assessed for risks and benefits and are to include a plan for mitigation of risks.
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US biosecurity panel clears publication path for controversial bird flu studies
(Web Page on Another Site)
A panel of U.S. biosecurity experts has withdrawn its objection to the publication of two controversial bird flu studies, clearing the way for the work to be disseminated by leading scientific journals.
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Press Statement on the NSABB Review of H5N1 Research
(Web Page on Another Site)
A recent review of research conducted on the H5N1 (bird flu) virus has led to recommendations that the information be filtered in the scientific journals to protect the public health.
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Concerns Are Raised About Genetically Engineered Mosquitoes
(Web Page on Another Site)
This article by Andrew Pollack appeared in the New York Times on October 30th, 2011. It discusses concernes raised with respect to mosqitoes engineered to fight diseases such as dengue fever.
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Lab Fight Raises U.S. Security Issues
(Web Page on Another Site)
This article by New York Times journalist Jennifer Gollan describes a dispute at the Synthetic Biology Engineering Research Center which highlights the potentially dangergous implications of the research.
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Science - Special Issue on Synthetic Biology
(Web Page on Another Site)
In the 2 September 2011 issue, Science highlights how the new field of synthetic biology is contributing to our understanding of biology and harnessing this understanding to benefit humanity.
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Synthetic Biology Points of View
Enter the discussion about synthetic biology. Add your comments to this forum to let us know what you think.
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Workshop Notes on Synthetic Biology and Engineering Ethics
(Web Page on this Site)
This page includes notes from a workshop held at the National Academy of Engineering on September 30th 2010. The workshop posed the question “How can engineering ethics contribute to the positive potential of the new field of synthetic biology?” It brought together synthetic biology researchers and experts in engineering ethics and science and technology studies (STS), to examine how research and educational activities can help to achieve those positive goals.
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Synthetic Biology Project
(Web Page on Another Site)
The Synthetic Biology Project was established as an initiative of the Foresight & Governance Program of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. The Project aims to foster informed public and policy discourse concerning the advancement of synthetic biology. Their website includes numerous resources including news and scholarly articles, and information about upcoming and recent events.
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Synthetic “Life,” Ethics, National Security, and Public Discourse
(Web Page on Another Site)
This article by Mildred K. Cho and David A. Relman appeared in the policy forum of Science Magazine on July 2, 2010. It features some of the concerns about biosecurity and ethics.
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The role of social scientists in synthetic biology
(Web Page on Another Site)
This article by Jane Calvert & Paul Martin appeared in EMBO Reports March of 2009. It examines the various possible roles that social scientists may play in debates about new technologies using the example of synthetic biology