[E-rundbrief] Info 495 - Extreme Genetic Engineering

[Matthias Reichl]

E-Rundbrief - Info 495 - ETC Group (CDN): Extreme 
Genetic Engineering: ETC Group Releases Report on 
Synthetic Biology Findings to be presented at 
World Social Forum in Nairobi - 20-25 January.

Bad Ischl, 17.1.2007

Begegnungszentrum für aktive Gewaltlosigkeit

www.begegnungszentrum.at

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Extreme Genetic Engineering:

January 16, 2007

www.etcgroup.org

ETC Group Releases Report on Synthetic Biology 
Findings to be presented at World Social Forum in Nairobi - 20-25 January

A new report by the ETC Group concludes that the 
social, environmental and bio-weapons threats of 
synthetic biology surpass the possible dangers 
and abuses of biotech. The full text of the 70- 
page report, Extreme Genetic Engineering: An 
Introduction to Synthetic Biology, is available 
for downloading free-of-charge on the ETC Group 
website: http://www.etcgroup.org/upload/publication/602/01/synbioreportweb.pdf

"Genetic engineering is passe," said Pat Mooney, 
Executive Director of ETC Group. "Today, 
scientists aren't just mapping genomes and 
manipulating genes, they're building life from 
scratch - and they're doing it in the absence of 
societal debate and regulatory oversight," said Mooney.

Synbio - dubbed "genetic engineering on steroids" 
- is inspired by the convergence of nano-scale 
biology, computing and engineering. Using a 
laptop computer, published gene sequence 
information and mail- order synthetic DNA, just 
about anyone has the potential to construct genes 
or entire genomes from scratch (including those 
of lethal pathogens). Scientists predict that 
within 2-5 years it will be possible to 
synthesise any virus; the first de novo bacterium 
will likely make its debut in 2007; in 5-10 years 
simple bacterial genomes will be synthesised 
routinely and it will become no big deal to 
cobble together a designer genome, insert it into 
an empty bacterial cell and - voila - give birth 
to a living, self-replicating organism. Other 
synthetic biologists hope to reconfigure the 
genetic pathways of existing organisms to perform 
new functions - such as manufacturing high-value drugs or chemicals.

A clutch of entrepreneurial scientists, including 
the gene maverick J. Craig Venter, is setting up 
synthetic biology companies backed by government 
funding and venture capital. They aim to 
commercialise new biological parts, devices and 
systems that don't exist in the natural world - 
some of which are designed for environmental 
release. Advocates insist that synthetic biology 
is the key to cheap biofuels, a cure for malaria, 
and climate change remediation - media-friendly 
goals that aim to mollify public concerns about a 
dangerous and controversial technology. 
Ultimately synthetic biology means cheaper and 
widely accessible tools to build bioweapons, 
virulent pathogens and artificial organisms that 
could pose grave threats to people and the 
planet. The danger is not just bio-terror, but "bio-error," warns ETC Group.

Despite calls for open source biology, corporate 
and academic scientists are winning exclusive 
monopoly patents on the products and processes of 
synthetic genetics. Like biotech, the power to 
make synthetic life could be concentrated in the 
hands of major multinational firms. As gene 
synthesis becomes cheaper and faster, it will 
become easier to synthesise a microbe than to 
find it in nature or retrieve it from a gene 
bank. Biological samples, sequenced and stored in 
digital form, will move instantaneously across 
the globe and be resurrected in corporate labs 
thousands of miles away - a practice that could 
erode future support for genetic conservation and 
create new challenges for international negotiations on biodiversity.

"Last year, 38 civil society organizations 
rejected proposals for self-regulation of 
synthetic biology put forth by a small group of 
synthetic biologists," said Kathy Jo Wetter of 
ETC Group. "Widespread debate on the social, 
economic and ethical implications of synbio must 
come first - and it must not be limited to 
biosecurity and biosafety issues," said Wetter.

The tools for synthesising genes and genomes are 
widely accessible and advancing at break-neck 
pace. ETC Group's new report concludes that it is 
not enough to regulate synthetic biology on the 
national level. Decisions must be considered in a 
global context, with broad participation from 
civil society and social movements. In keeping 
with the Precautionary Principle, ETC Group 
asserts that - at a minimum - there must be an 
immediate ban on environmental release of de novo 
synthetic organisms until wide societal debate 
and strong governance are in place.

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Synthetic Biology Report Goes to World Social Forum

ETC Group will host three workshops and 
participate in several other events at the 
upcoming World Social Forum in Nairobi, 20-25 
January. All events will take place at the Moi 
International Sports Center (Kasarani suburb). 
ETC Group's workshops and other events in which 
we'll participate - see our web site for updates: http://www.etcgroup.org

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Matthias Reichl, Pressesprecher/ press speaker,
     Begegnungszentrum fuer aktive Gewaltlosigkeit
     Center for Encounter and active Non-Violence
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