Synthetic Biologie (SynBio)

A multidisciplinary area of research that seeks to create new biological parts, devices, and systems, or to redesign systems that are already found in nature.

A branch of science that encompasses a broad range of methodologies from various disciplines, such as biotechnology, genetic engineering, molecular biology, molecular engineering, systems biology, membrane science, biophysics, chemical and biological engineering, electrical and computer engineering, control engineering, and evolutionary biology.

Dossiers

Biodiversity

Published: 24 November 2015

Dossier

Synthetic Biology describes a set of new genetic techniques for designing and engineering lifeforms for industrial purposes. So far, there is neither a public debate worth mentioning nor any regulation by law. Our dossier looks at the risks Synthetic Biology poses for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

Articles

Cutting Corners on Consent

Published: 28 January 2019

A new UN agreement requires organizations seeking to release gene-drive organisms to obtain the “free, prior, and informed consent” of potentially affected communities. 

By Zahra Moloo

Crop genetics: Juggling genes

Published: 31 October 2017

In the coming years, seed companies plan to use genome editing to produce crops with new characteristics – and market them without having to state that they are "genetically modified".

By Jim Thomas

Call for a global moratorium on gene drives

Published: 5 December 2016

Along with 160 global groups the Heinrich Böll Foundation signed the call for a global moratorium on genetically-engineered gene Drives. Support against gene drives also comes from the German government.

Open letter for conservation with a conscience: no place for gene drives

Published: 16 November 2016

With this open letter, 30 international conservation and environmental leaders demand that “gene drives should not be promoted as conservation tools.” The letter was also signed by Barbara Unmüßig of the Heinrich Böll Foundation.

The perils of planned extinctions

Published: 14 November 2016

The gene-drive technology is supposed to enable deliberate extinctions of “pest” species, in order to save “favored” species and stop the global biodiversity loss. The risks are obvious - and the existing regulatory framework is absolutely unsuitable.

By Claire Hope Cummings

Gene drives: Who decides for Hawai’i and beyond?

Published: 27 September 2016

At this year's World Conservation Congress in Hawai'i ethical and social concerns about the use of a controversial synthetic biology technology were raised: gene drives. This genetic engineering technique has the ability to change the world we know.

By Dana Perls

A Bad Bet on Synthetic Biology

Published: 6 November 2015

Las Vegas seems to be an apt place to launch a risky corporate gamble that could destroy the livelihoods of millions of small-scale farmers.

By Silvia Ribeiro and Jim Thomas

Publications

Reckless Driving: Gene drives and the end of nature

Published: 16 November 2016

Imagine that by releasing a single fly into the wild you could genetically alter all the flies on the planet. This is the terrifyingly powerful premise behind gene drives: a new and controversial genetic engineering technology that can permanently alter an entire species by releasing one bioengineered individual. Civil society groups are alarmed by this newfound ability to reshape the natural world.

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Outsmarting Nature? Synthetic Biology and Climate Smart Agriculture

Published: 30 November 2015

Many of the world's largest agro-industrial corporations are pushing forward the poorly-defined idea of "Climate-Smart Agriculture"(CSA) to re-market industrial agriculture as 'climate-ready'. This report uncovers how some advocates of CSA are embracing the extreme genetic engineering tools of synthetic biology ("Syn Bio") to develop a set of false solutions to the climate crisis.

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Extreme Biotech meets Extreme Energy

Published: 24 November 2015

The extreme genetic engineering industry of Synthetic Biology (Syn Bio) is shrugging off earlier pretensions that it would usher in a clean, green ’post-petroleum’ economy. Now they are partnering with big oil, coal, gas and mining interests. This report details this emerging fossilbiotech alliance.

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