Ethical Challenges and Concerns in Synthetic Biology

Executive Summary

Synthetic Biology (SynBio) has many different definitions, but can generally be defined as “an interdisciplinary field of biology and engineering that manipulates DNA for the purpose of designing and redesigning systems such as genes, biological pathways, or organisms” (Johnson et al. 2024). Scientists and engineers are using SynBio tools to create new medical therapies, identify disease outbreaks, breakdown chemicals, and develop more sustainable fertilizers. These promises of new innovations also bring ethical challenges for researchers and questions about the use of their products.

In this paper, we highlight six major areas or themes related to ethical challenges associated with SynBio research and products: 1) engineering life; 2) risks and potential benefits; 3) promises, speculations, and hype; 4) equity and distribution of risk, benefits, and access; 5) research collaborations; and 6) environmental ethics. Each theme is defined, described and linked to associated research and publications on the topic. The goal of the paper is to provide a high-level review of major ethical issues, provide additional resources for investigators to learn more about the subject, and contribute to the overall discussion on the implications of SynBio.

View the full paper (PDF).

Acknowledgments

Funding for this project was provided by grants from Rice University’s Synthetic Biology Institute (Matthews and Beth Beason Abmayr), the Rita Allen Foundation Civic Science Fellow Award (Matthews and Johnson), and the National Science Foundation (#2223678).

To access other papers in this three-part series, see “Exploring Public Engagement Possibilities for Synthetic Biology: An Overview for Research Scientists” and “The Regulatory Landscape for Synthetic Biology.” For additional information and related projects, visit the Synthetic Biology website. 

This publication was produced on behalf of Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. It has not undergone editorial or peer review. Any errors are the responsibility of the author(s) alone.

This material may be quoted or reproduced without prior permission, provided appropriate credit is given to the author(s) and Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. The views expressed herein are those of the individual author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.