** Apologies for any cross-posting ** 


BioCentre invites you to attend:

"EXPLORING SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY"

Wednesday 20th April 2011, 2:00pm-4:30pm 
Followed by a drinks reception

Charles Darwin Conference Centre, 12 Roger Street, London WC1N 2JU

PDF invite can be downloaded here: http://tiny.cc/9fc5h

SPEAKERS INCLUDE: 

• Dr. JIM HASELOFF,  Haseloff Labs, University of Cambridge
• Dr. CATHERINE RHODES, Institute for Science, Ethics and Innovation, University of Manchester
• MELANIE DUFFIELD, Team Leader - Advanced DNA and Protein Technologies, Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (an agency of the UK Ministry of Defence)
• ALEXANDRA DAISY GINSBERY, artist/designer involved in the ethical, social and cultural implications of synthetic biology.
• DR. DAVID KING, Human Genetics Alert, speaking on environmental ethics 


BioCentre's third symposium in its 2010-11 series "Revolution, Regulation and Responsibilities: Technology & Democracy" and co-hosted with The Biochemical Society. 

Often referred to by the media as "extreme engineering” and "biotechnology on steroids," synthetic biology represents a shift from merely seeking to understand biological systems to actually creating new ones. 

Advances in this emerging technology unite multidisciplinary research and is driven by engineering and science. However, as with any new technology there are profound ethical, social and regulatory implications. Whilst there is agreement across the board that regulation will play an integral and necessary part in the maturity of synthetic biology, there is a diversity of opinion with regard to the scope and structure of such governance.
 
To what extent would the application of synthetic biology result in new manipulative possibilities for the human project in terms of the design and creation of life? Making alterations to natural life involves a certain degree of risk. At this time scientists do not yet understand how to synthesize organisms with predictable replication and mutation properties. Given how versatile microbes can be in adapting to the alterations carried out by human interventions, if mistakes are made then they will be replicated and may quickly become uncontrollable and unmanageable. What happens if redesigned bacteria and viruses are loosed into the environment? What would be the impact on the environment? 

Likewise, there is the obvious attraction to terrorists of being able to radically alter and modify viruses and bacteria given the fact that it is relatively inexpensive to do. Coupled with this is the fact that as synthetic biology develops calls are being made to make synthetic biology ‘open source’. This would effectively mean that instructions for creating synthetics would be available via the Internet. In turn this makes the potential for synthetic biology-enabled bioterrorism far more likely. 


*** Please feel free to circulate details amongst colleagues and contacts who may also be interested in attending. *** 

RSVPs are required. Please include your name and the organisation that you represent in your response. There is no charge for the event. 

To RSVP: e: [log in to unmask] | t: 0207 227 4706 | w: www.bioethics.ac.uk