Ethical Issues Of Synthetic Biology

Synthetic biology is well-known as one of the top ten technologies that changed the world by scientific media and think tanks,which brought unprecedented changes to the biotechnology industry.Someone also suggested that synthetic biology is marked by genome synthesis of the third life science revolution after the DNA Double Helix discovery and the Human Genome Project.Such a significant emerging discipline combines chemistry,molecular biology,physics,engineering,computer science and other disciplines.Synthetic biology uses engineering and standardization procedures to make artificial biological systems to solve energy,health,agriculture,the environment and other issues of human beings.Synthetic biology's ultimate goal is to benefit humanity,and improve the quality of life and the level of production.But it also brings a lot of unprecedented ethical questions.In this paper,the author will study these ethical issues,and suggest ethical regulatory proposals.Making or reinventing life is the core of synthetic biology,which is also the most controversial ethical issues.The debate focused on whether it should be using synthetic biology to create life or not.Opponents have following several reasons:? Artificial life has challenged the life of concept,which brings a series of ethical issues;?Making life is "Playing God",and "playing God" means self destruction;? Artificial life has challenged Darwin of evolution;? Artificial life has violated Biocentric Ethics;?Synthetic biologists cannot bear the responsibility of making life,thus they often escape the duty.Supporters try to refute the views above,and then make the ethical justification.The author does not agree with both views,and he considers that the wise attitude is neither negative nor positive,but limited permit.This limit is made out of artificial life can not cause harm to humans.Prohibiting making life is unwise,because it can bring great benefits for humanity,and promote the development of basic biology,and yet did not cause serious consequences.But that doesn't mean we let it go,once it causes great harm to human beings,or the risks outweigh the benefits,they must be restricted or even prohibited.The safety ethical problem of synthetic biology is the most worrying problem.Firstly,the basic research field of synthetic biology may have hidden dangers,and it is difficult to accurately judge the risk of basic research such as protocells,minimal genome,DNA-based biological circuits and chemical synthetic biology.Second,the application products of synthetic biology may also bring threats to human,other biological,eco-environment and social ethics.Finally,synthetic biology also brings other biosafety issues,including the security issues of standardized biological components,biohackery and DIY biology,the threat of bioterrorism,the security problems posed by biological defenses and the illicit bio-economy and so on.According to these security problems,the author puts forward corresponding management suggestions.The ethical issue of patent protection relates to the innovative mechanism of synthetic biology and the distribution of interests,which is one of the most important ethical issues.The controversy focuses on whether synthetic biology can be patented.If yes,should be granted or not?The support party considers that all synthetic biology in conformity with the patent law should be granted patent rights,and the patent right is the fair return of the inventor's hard work,which can inspire the future innovation activities.Opponents say:the patent law reduces the status of organism,and it is likely to make false judgments on the patent-ability of emerging synthetic biology;in the field of public health and environmental governance such as climate warming,it should not involve patents;patents will also lead to monopoly and hinder the innovation of synthetic biology.The author thinks that Whether synthetic biology should be granted patents needs to be analyzed concretely.The inventions of synthetic biology can be divided into several types,the inventions which relate to human interests and need to invest a lot of money or researchers shall not be granted,and other inventions of private persons or organizations should be granted in order to encourage innovation.Finally,according to the existing intellectual property framework the author puts forward his own ethical recommendations.In response to these ethical issues,there are two main views:The first view argues that the development of synthetic biology should be postponed or even prohibited until proving technology harmless or damage control,and it demands strict ethical regulation;the second view argues that the opportunity should be preempted and against any ethical governance restricting academic freedom and scientific exploration.The author thinks the first view is too conservative,and can not conducive to the development of new technologies.The second view is too optimistic,and may lead to biosafety risks.In this respect,the author suggests that the development of synthetic biology should not be prevented,but it is necessary to carry out moderate ethical governance,which is the principle of precautionary-proactionary.In fact,some developed countries such as the United States have enacted ethics governance on the development of synthetic biology,but there are still many regulatory problems.The author tries to absorb foreign experience and lessons to put forward his own ethical governance principles and suggestions.