Difference between revisions of "Team:HKUST-Rice/Practices"

 
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<strong><h2 style="color: #3D3D29"> Human Practices </h2></strong><hr><br>
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<h3>The Black Swan</h3>
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<p>In scientific investigations, black swans pop up every now and then, not alone iGEM and
 
  
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synthetic biology.  The idea of microbial detection of soil nutrient concentrations would bring
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much controversies.</p>
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<br>
 
  
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<p>Whilst risk assessment is a possible way to determine potential hazards, public communication
 
  
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is another good practice in knowing how people think of our ideas. This year, we work beyond
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<div id= "page_title"><h1 id="scroll">Human Practices</h1>
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<h1>Introduction</h1>
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<p>This human practices project focuses on public perceptions of synthetic biology applications and their ethical implications. Several significant concerns arise regarding ethics and biosafety, especially the biohazard potential of the applications of synthetic biology.  These can be addressed through discussion with the general public.  Our research uncovered three distinct viewpoints:  The general public perceives synthetic biology to be complex, risky and uncertain.  We attempt to elucidate negative perceptions through exploratory research, and dissuade uncertainty through interactive debate.</p>
  
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the bench and inquire about the stakeholders’ opinions about microbial biosensor. The
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collaboration of two universities expanded our focus group in the study of stakeholders’
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<h1>iGEM Biosensors</h1>
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<p>In the past few years, many iGEM teams have constructed biosensors.  These biosensors were targeted at a huge range of analytes with the use of various enzymes.</p>
  
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perceptions on the use of microbial biosensor. We are curious if they feel discomfort with synbio
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                                        <p style=" text-align: center" ><strong>Figure 1. Statistics on iGEM projects working on biosensor, 2012-2014.</strong></p>
  
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applications and if they will perceive an in-field microbial biosensor as a Pandora’s box.</p>
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<p>Future iGEMers may consider how a biosensor is designed for a safe use. In government and
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international organisations’ shoes, they may consider how these applications should be  
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<h1>Exploratory Research</h1>
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<p>The primary focus of the HKUST-Rice 2015 iGEM team project is to develop a microbial biosensor to detect available nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium (NPK) concentrations in soil.  This idea could be extended beyond agriculture, such as in water quality surveillance or sewage management.  The human practices team explores the opinions of stakeholders invested in soil sensing technologies.</p>
  
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regulated to reassure the public that the use of microbial biosensor is safe.</p>
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                                        <image src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/3/3f/HKUST-Rice15_MediatingProcess.jpg.png" style="width: 100%; height: auto; position: left;">
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<p style=" text-align: center" ><strong>Figure 2. Interviewees’ perceptions on the field applications of an NPK microbial sensor. </strong></p>
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<p>The paradigm above illustrates interviewees’ perceptions on the in-field use of NPK microbial biosensors in their field (Figure 2).</p>
  
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      <p style=" text-align: right"><a href="https://2015.igem.org/Team:HKUST-Rice/Practices_ExploratoryResearch"> Learn more ... </a></p>
  
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<h3>Playing God</h3>
 
  
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<p>Human intelligence supremacy impacted the nature for at least 10,000 years. Agricultural
 
  
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development was a watershed in human civilisation. Since then, human have been attempting
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to tame the nature and their environment. However, the poor agricultural management brought
 
  
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us to the highway to death.</p>
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<h1>Bioethical Debate</h1>
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<p>The HKUST-Rice iGEM team collaborated with the Rice University Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering (IBB) Girls’ BioScience STEM Initiative, a weeklong summer camp held each year for economically disadvantaged high school students.  These young ladies were asked to debate the following question: “Is it ethical to treat microorganisms as a machine for the betterment of agriculture?” </p>
  
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<p>Now, human proceed to another watershed in which we are manipulating microorganisms to
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      <p style=" text-align: right"><a href="https://2015.igem.org/Team:HKUST-Rice/Practices_Debate" > Learn more ... </a></p>
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offset the harms we brought about along the history. Ethical issue on treating microorganism as
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a machine for the betterment of our lives popped out in recent years. It is time to consider
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whether we are the creatures specially fashioned by God or playing God is simply a
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meaningless cliché.</p>
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<h3 style="color: #3D3D29"><ins>Introduction to the debate</ins></h3>
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<p>A debate of the sharpest minds on an ethical topic “Is it ethical to treat micro-organisms as a chassis for the betterment in agriculture?” is held soon.  There are some intriguing thoughts emerging with the advancement of synthetic biology is possibly a way leading to a better life. As some people believe human beings, who poorly manage the use of resources, is now reaping the fruits of their past actions; and thus, it is unreasonable to use and modify other organisms in exchange for the betterment of our life. Therefore, we question whether “saving the world & making a better life” is an excuse to treat microorganism as a biological machine in agricultural practices.</p>
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<h4 style="color: #3D3D29">Objectives</h4>
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<li>To examine the ethical and moral landscapes of synthetic biology critically.</li>
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<li>To reflect on the goods and harms brought by human activities.</li>
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<li>To assess various attitudes towards the controversies brought by synbio-application for the betterment of people's living.</li>
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Latest revision as of 20:37, 15 September 2015

Human Practices


Introduction

This human practices project focuses on public perceptions of synthetic biology applications and their ethical implications. Several significant concerns arise regarding ethics and biosafety, especially the biohazard potential of the applications of synthetic biology. These can be addressed through discussion with the general public. Our research uncovered three distinct viewpoints: The general public perceives synthetic biology to be complex, risky and uncertain. We attempt to elucidate negative perceptions through exploratory research, and dissuade uncertainty through interactive debate.

iGEM Biosensors

In the past few years, many iGEM teams have constructed biosensors. These biosensors were targeted at a huge range of analytes with the use of various enzymes.

Figure 1. Statistics on iGEM projects working on biosensor, 2012-2014.

Exploratory Research

The primary focus of the HKUST-Rice 2015 iGEM team project is to develop a microbial biosensor to detect available nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium (NPK) concentrations in soil. This idea could be extended beyond agriculture, such as in water quality surveillance or sewage management. The human practices team explores the opinions of stakeholders invested in soil sensing technologies.

Figure 2. Interviewees’ perceptions on the field applications of an NPK microbial sensor.

The paradigm above illustrates interviewees’ perceptions on the in-field use of NPK microbial biosensors in their field (Figure 2).

Learn more ...

Bioethical Debate

The HKUST-Rice iGEM team collaborated with the Rice University Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering (IBB) Girls’ BioScience STEM Initiative, a weeklong summer camp held each year for economically disadvantaged high school students. These young ladies were asked to debate the following question: “Is it ethical to treat microorganisms as a machine for the betterment of agriculture?”

Learn more ...