Background
Synthetic Biology is a new field of research that applies engineering principals to biological constructs (Policy 2014). In essence, it boils biology down to its genetic building blocks and rebuilds brand new cells through robotics or a DNA printer (Policy 2014). While related to genetic engineering, synthetic biology extends the focus to entire systems of genes and gene products. The purpose of this interdisciplinary field can be defined as engineering existing organisms to perform new tasks and engineering new biological parts and systems (Andrianantoandro 2006).
Applications for synthetic biology include bioengineered microorganisms that can “produce pharmaceuticals, detect toxic chemicals, break down pollutants, repair defective genes, destroy cancer cells, and generate hydrogen for the post-petroleum economy” (Tucker 2006). This is a long list of exciting possibilities, but these are currently more hypothetical, not currently practical, applications. Yet, these applications represent an exciting possible future for the field.
Particularly, I am interested in the agricultural applications of synthetic biology. These include microorganisms that regulate soil conditions and break down pollutants. These would work create better conditions for crop growth, allowing for a more efficient use of resources and more productive crops (Tucker 2006). Another research branch of interest is corn-based biofuels with organisms engineers to produce higher rates of ethanol. These researchers hope to find a source of renewable energy to complement other energies (Kaebnick 2014).
However, releasing synthetic organisms into the environment comes with several risks. For example, synthetic organisms may disrupt local flora and fauna through the introduction of disease or competition (Tucker 2006). They also may be extremely difficult to contain or remove after their introduction (Tucker 2006). This is important as currently there are no policy regulations of synthetic biology in the US, and this is a concern for many individuals and organizations who cite public health anxiety and environmental hazards as reasons for regulation (Kaebnick 2014). Establishing regulations is a key step for implementation. On top of this there are moral concerns about whether or not creating new life organisms is intrinsically troubling with some critics stressing limits to the human altercation of nature (Keabnick 2014).
Research Questions
What are the possibilities for eventual use of synthetic biology in American industrial agriculture, and how can policy encourage smart implementation?
Methods
- Literature review of synthetic biology in agriculture
- This will provide an overview of the current state of synthetic biology in agriculture and address the most viable options for implementation in the future
- Includes a comprehensive look into research papers, patents, policy proposals, and companies started on the subject
- Like AI tech, this will focus on applications primarily in industrial United States agriculture, as bulk of research is conducted in the US it is likely to be adopted here before anywhere else
- Applications in other contexts will be considered as well but not the focus
- Interviews with various key actors: synthetic biology researchers, policy makers, and critics
- This will complement my literature review by providing a deeper look into how those most invested in synthetic biology view its possibilities for agriculture
Resources
Andrianantoandro, Ernesto, Subhayu Basu, David K Karig, and Ron Weiss. 2006. “Synthetic Biology: New Engineering Rules for an Emerging Discipline.” Molecular Systems Biology 2 (May). doi:10.1038/msb4100073.
Kaebnick, Gregory. 2014. “The Ethical Issues of Synthetic Biology.” In The Future of Bioethics: International Dialogues, edited by Akira Akabayashi. OUP Oxford.
Policy Horizons Canada. 2014. “MetaScan 3: Emerging Technologies.” Government of Canada. http://www.horizons.gc.ca/eng/content/metascan-3-emerging-technologies-0.
Tucker, Jonathan B., and Raymond A. Zilinskas. 2006. “The Promise and Perils of Synthetic Biology.” The New Atlantis, no. 12: 25–45.