Difference between revisions of "Team:Bordeaux/Practices"
Line 78: | Line 78: | ||
− | + | <div class="col-lg-6"> | |
− | <p align="center"><i>Before analyzing the ethical aspects of synthetic biology, it seems important to clearly define this new area of biology.[1]</i></p> | + | <p align="center"><i>Before analyzing the ethical aspects of synthetic biology, it seems important to clearly define this new area of biology.[1]</i></p> |
− | + | <h5 align="center" >What is synthetic biology?</h5> | |
− | <p align="justify">Synthetic biology is a new field of research in biology which <b>mixes science and engineering</b>. It focuses on the conception and the construction of new reliable functions through the creation of biological systems or the re-engineering of organisms which already exist. The singularity of synthetic biology compared to traditional biology is about engineering live beings to have a <b>predictable behavior</b>. In order to do so, scientists focus on optimizing existing biosynthetic pathways or creating new ones while bypassing or suppressing inefficient pathways in order to increase productivity. | + | <p align="justify">Synthetic biology is a new field of research in biology which <b>mixes science and engineering</b>. It focuses on the conception and the construction of new reliable functions through the creation of biological systems or the re-engineering of organisms which already exist. The singularity of synthetic biology compared to traditional biology is about engineering live beings to have a <b>predictable behavior</b>. In order to do so, scientists focus on optimizing existing biosynthetic pathways or creating new ones while bypassing or suppressing inefficient pathways in order to increase productivity. |
− | + | <br>Three different approaches exist in synthetic biology: | |
− | <br>Three different approaches exist in synthetic biology: | + | <p align="justify" style="line-height: 105%"> - The metabolic engineering of the living beings by using <b>biobricks</b> (DNA sequences whose functions and assembly conditions are known). The biobricks are free of access on the WEB and can be synthesized on request. |
− | + | <br> - The production of <b>minimal genomes</b> and <b>simplified organisms</b> where new functions can be added to realize a task. This approach is often used for the optimization of existing processes. | |
− | <p align="justify" style="line-height: 105%"> - The metabolic engineering of the living beings by using <b>biobricks</b> (DNA sequences whose functions and assembly conditions are known). The biobricks are free of access on the WEB and can be synthesized on request. | + | <br> - The synthesis of a <b>whole synthetic genome</b> that will be inserted in existing cell hosts or in synthetic cells. This field of synthetic biology may help scientists to understand how living organisms are created. </p> |
− | < | + | <p align="justify"> The organisms which come from these approaches can be used in both <b>industrial applications</b> (for example to produce drugs, biofuels, biomass or biopesticides) and in <b>basic research</b> as tools like biosensors (<a href"https://2009.igem.org/Team:Cambridge"target="_blank"><b>E. chromi</b></a> - Team Cambridge, 2009) or against pollution (<a href"https://2013.igem.org/Team:TU-Munic"target="_blank"><b>Physco Filter</b></a> - Team TU-Munich, 2013). |
− | < | + | |
− | </p> | + | |
− | + | ||
− | <p align="justify">The organisms which come from these approaches can be used in both <b>industrial applications</b> (for example to produce drugs, biofuels, biomass or biopesticides) and in <b>basic research</b> as tools like biosensors (<a href"https://2009.igem.org/Team:Cambridge"target="_blank"><b>E. chromi</b></a> - Team Cambridge, 2009) or against pollution (<a href"https://2013.igem.org/Team:TU-Munic"target="_blank"><b>Physco Filter</b></a> - Team TU-Munich, 2013). | + | |
<br>With these new tools emerging from synthetic biology, many possible fields conducting to different experiments in science permit the intellectual and technical expansion. <b>Bioethics</b> is necessary to prevent researcher about its <b>ethical limits</b>.</p> | <br>With these new tools emerging from synthetic biology, many possible fields conducting to different experiments in science permit the intellectual and technical expansion. <b>Bioethics</b> is necessary to prevent researcher about its <b>ethical limits</b>.</p> | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
− | + | <h5 align="center" > The responsibilities of the researcher for synthetic biology </h5> | |
− | <p align="justify">The advances in biotechnology techniques also lead to dangerous possible applications causing a general <b>fear of modified organisms</b> by the public. They may be afraid of the organisms that can be created by synthetic biology, afraid that these organisms will somehow <b>grow out of our control</b> or have unexpected properties and will <b>become dangerous for humanity</b>. Our iGEM team observed this while talking to the general public on the streets of Bordeaux. For more information, look at our section Cap Sciences on this page. | + | <p align="justify">The advances in biotechnology techniques also lead to dangerous possible applications causing a general <b>fear of modified organisms</b> by the public. They may be afraid of the organisms that can be created by synthetic biology, afraid that these organisms will somehow <b>grow out of our control</b> or have unexpected properties and will <b>become dangerous for humanity</b>. Our iGEM team observed this while talking to the general public on the streets of Bordeaux. For more information, look at our section Cap Sciences on this page. |
− | + | <br>In order to limit this fear, the <b>question of transparency</b> is important for scientists. Besides publishing his results, the researcher has to be able to <b>explain his research process</b> and the <b>challenges of the project</b> by stating the explored and the ignored areas. The general audience has to be able to understand his whole scientific approach. Results found, thanks to this approach, contribute to the <b>production of new knowledge and innovation</b> that could be shared to the general public. It is also important for the researcher to analyze his results, looking at the <b>possible negative impacts</b> of his research and estimating the <b>safety and environmental risks</b> and as well the ethical problematic. However, the researcher cannot be the only one in charge of the safety and ethics of his research.</p> <br> | |
− | <br>In order to limit this fear, the <b>question of transparency</b> is important for scientists. Besides publishing his results, the researcher has to be able to <b>explain his research process</b> and the <b>challenges of the project</b> by stating the explored and the ignored areas. The general audience has to be able to understand his whole scientific approach. Results found, thanks to this approach, contribute to the <b>production of new knowledge and innovation</b> that could be shared to the general public. It is also important for the researcher to analyze his results, looking at the <b>possible negative impacts</b> of his research and estimating the <b>safety and environmental risks</b> and as well the ethical problematic. However, the researcher cannot be the only one in charge of the safety and ethics of his research.</p> | + | </div> |
− | <br> | + | </div> |
+ | <div class="col-lg-10 col-lg-offset-1"> | ||
<h5 align="center" >The synthetic biology legal framework in France and in Europe </h5> | <h5 align="center" >The synthetic biology legal framework in France and in Europe </h5> | ||
Revision as of 09:20, 15 August 2015