Synthetic Biology in the Real World: Taking the Big View

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Synthetic Biology in the Real WorldTaking the
Big View

• Learning from Others
• Preparing for the Inevitable
• UCSF- SynBerc 1/18/12
• Margaret S. Race, Ph.D.
• SETI Institute, Mountain View CA

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Perspectives of a Natural Biologist?

• Ecologist
• Technology Issues (EISs nuclear and fossil
  fuel power plants)
• Technology Environmental Change (TRR
  mudsnails Man Made Wetlands)
• Genetic Engineering - UCB (EISs, scientific
  uncertainty, public concern)
• NASA and Astrobiology (EISs and Mars Sample
  Return)
• Interest in Synthetic Biology for several
  reasons-- Research on
• 1) Impediments to Missions (within beyond
  science/tech community)
• 2) Emerging Technologies, Decision Making, Risk
  Communication the Public
• 3) BSL-4 labs, biocontainment and public
  response
• 4) Space Synthetic Biology Workshop-- Ethical
  and Societal Issues
• What Can I share? Recognize A Broader Framework
  for science beyond the lab

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Shaping the Science-Industry-Policy Interface in
Synthetic Biology S. Gaisser and T. Reiss, Syst
Synth Biol (2009) 3109-114

• Gaiser Reiss identified Roadblocks
• Conflicting attitudes to intellectual property
• Different expectations re Benefits of
  collaboration
• Different time frame wrt time horizon
• Built on mainly Disciplinary Approaches
• Similar to Genetic Engineering but Need focus on
  Standardization
• But also new concerns about
• unforseen or dangerous functions
• Security
• Public perception
• Suggested NEED for
• Framework Triple Helix of Science-Industry-Pol
  icy
• ID and Define Common Goals (standardization,
  organize, report, share, registries, patents,
  international consistency, licenses etc.
• Security/screening (prevent misuse)
• Public Communication

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My View of their "Triple Helix" Collaborative
Framework to Help Demonstrate Proof of Synbio
Socioeconomic Issues Standardization Intellectual
Property Public Perception Openness and
Dialogue Science- Industry Relations
Science
Industry
Government
Government as Moderator in Dialogue between
Industry and Science
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Socioeconomic Issues Standardization Intellectual
Property Public Perception Openness and
Dialogue Science- Industry Relations
Science
Industry
SoHows it working?
Government
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Policy Review Process for Genetic Engineering
still isn't certain Biotech Firms Caught In
Regulatory No Man's Land by JOE PALCA NPR,
Jan. 5, 2012
AquaBounty's genetically modified salmon is seen
swimming behind a much smaller wild Atlantic
salmon of the same age. AquaBounty has been
trying to get government approval to sell its
salmon for more than a decade.
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Roses are Red, Roses are Bluish Science 7
October 2011 vol. 334 no. 6052 22-25 "A 25
year struggle to sell genetically-engineered
blue roses in the US took a big step forward"
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Lessons/Issues for SynBio?

• Scientists comfortable with Synbio, but
  infrastructure is not ready
• More than just a dialogue between Scientists
  Industry with Government as Moderator
• Need Frame the Picture Bigger Like for
  Astrobiology (Mars Sample Return )
• Identify Impediments to Progress/Adoption
• Society is not outside of Triple Helix
• Engage the Public (not just one way
  communication)
• Public Perceptions do not Equal Ignorance or
  Misperceptions
• Risk Assessment How ID, Measure, Weigh,
  Benefits and Pitfalls of Technoscience?
• What is Public Benefit? What are Costs? (short
  and long term?)
• Need Gain Support and Engagement of Civic
  Stakeholders
• No Such thing as Societal Informed
  Consent--Scientists/Industry feel they do good
  work are ethical (focus behond
  'now'---Public raise other questions)
• Need Consider primary, indirect, cumulative
  impacts not just benefits

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Consider Framing the Story as Science in the
Real World

• Context
• Science In The News
• Will Hear About It In Media, Not Just
  Textbooks
• Controversy And Debate Likely To Continue
• Many Different Perspectives
• Different types of science data and info
  needed
• Need To Distinguish
• Basic Science Facts (Uncertainties Data
  Interpretation)
• Vs. Applied Science, Decision Making
• Vs. Societal Implications (Short And Long
  Term)

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Like Issues with Climate Change The Big Picture
Scientists involved in many aspects
I II III IV
Basic Science Observe Patterns Research Collect Data Interpret Results Implications? Next Steps Cause/Effect Extrapolate Models Complexity Solutions? New Problems?
Addressing
Understanding
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Where Do Sciences Scientists Fit?(don't just
focus on near term-- getting things to market
etc.)
I II III IV
Basic Science Observe Patterns Research Collect Data Interpret Results Implications? Next Steps Cause/Effect Extrapolate Models Complexity (issues with scale up-- new questions) Solutions? large scale uses product 'life cycles' and end of use? (what does that mean with a replicating 'solution'?) New Problems? (caused by implementation or applications intended to solve other problems)
if emerging technologies are used as 'solutions'
, what are the scientific, technical, societal,
environmenta,l economic and other implications
if new problems arise? How does this fit into
the decision making process?