TY - JOUR
T1 - Preparing synthetic biology for the world
AU - Moe-Behrens, Gerd H G
AU - Davis, Rene
AU - Haynes, Karmella
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - Synthetic Biology promises low-cost, exponentially scalable products and global health solutions in the form of self-replicating organisms, or "living devices." As these promises are realized, proof-of-concept systems will gradually migrate from tightly regulated laboratory or industrial environments into private spaces as, for instance, probiotic health products, food, and even do-it-yourself bioengineered systems. What additional steps, if any, should be taken before releasing engineered self-replicating organisms into a broader user space? In this review, we explain how studies of genetically modified organisms lay groundwork for the future landscape of biosafety. Early in the design process, biological engineers are anticipating potential hazards and developing innovative tools to mitigate risk. Here, we survey lessons learned, ongoing efforts to engineer intrinsic biocontainment, and how different stakeholders in synthetic biology can act to accomplish best practices for biosafety.
AB - Synthetic Biology promises low-cost, exponentially scalable products and global health solutions in the form of self-replicating organisms, or "living devices." As these promises are realized, proof-of-concept systems will gradually migrate from tightly regulated laboratory or industrial environments into private spaces as, for instance, probiotic health products, food, and even do-it-yourself bioengineered systems. What additional steps, if any, should be taken before releasing engineered self-replicating organisms into a broader user space? In this review, we explain how studies of genetically modified organisms lay groundwork for the future landscape of biosafety. Early in the design process, biological engineers are anticipating potential hazards and developing innovative tools to mitigate risk. Here, we survey lessons learned, ongoing efforts to engineer intrinsic biocontainment, and how different stakeholders in synthetic biology can act to accomplish best practices for biosafety.
KW - Biosafety research
KW - Containment of biohazards
KW - Risk assessment
KW - Synthetic biology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84875851718&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84875851718&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fmicb.2013.00005
DO - 10.3389/fmicb.2013.00005
M3 - Review article
C2 - 23355834
AN - SCOPUS:84875851718
SN - 1664-302X
VL - 4
JO - Frontiers in Microbiology
JF - Frontiers in Microbiology
IS - JAN
ER -