• Technology

• Health

• Environment

• Project Co-ordinator: Dr. phil. Margret Engelhard, Dipl.-Biol.

• Press Release (Beginning of Project) (German/PDF)

• M. Engelhard: “Synthetic biology gets ethical”, Newsletter No 94/2009

• M. Engelhard: “Die Politische Meinung” 12/2010, (German Journal Article): “Biosicherheit in der Synthetischen Biologie”

• Duration: 1/11–6/13

• Funding: Klaus Tschira Stiftung

• Further information on “Synthetic Biology”

Synthetic biology is a young and very dynamic branch of modern biology that focuses on the conceptual design of living systems. Its goals reach from attempts to create artificial life in the test tube to the search for new effective medicines, cheap biofuels and new methods to produce petrochemicals. Synthetic biology is characterized by an interdisciplinary cooperation of biologists, engineers and computer scientists.

Currently, the perspectives of the engineers and the computer scientists are changing the way of working practices in synthetic biology significantly: Scientists are developing minimal cells that are stripped down to a few basic features onto which standardized genomic sequences can be mounted expressing the desired function. With its systemic approach and its attempts to generate biological systems that might not have any counterparts in existing living systems, synthetic biology goes far beyond mere genetic engineering. However, the research on the social implications of this new development is just in its fledgling stages.

Aims of this project are to explore the possibilities of synthetic biology and to name potential risks. The project group also wants to precise central terms and definitions and, thus, make a contribution to an efficient and reliable communication on the challenges of synthetic biology. Hereupon new ethical and methodical standards for research and potential applications of synthetic biology shall be developed. The resulting recommendations shall address science, industry, politics and general public interested in the chances and risks of this upcoming field of biotechnology.

Synthetic Biology

Genetic Engineering

Medical Ethics/Bio-Ethics