Difference between revisions of "Team:Bordeaux/Practices"
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<h5 align="center" >What is synthetic biology?</h5> | <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" style="text-indent: 3vw;"> 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. </p> | <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. </p> | ||
<p align="justify" style="line-height: 105%"> - 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> | <p align="justify" style="line-height: 105%"> - 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> | ||
<p align="justify" style="line-height: 105%"> - 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" style="line-height: 105%"> - 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 align="justify" style="text-indent: 3vw;"> 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). 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> |
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<h5 align="center" > The responsibilities of the researcher for synthetic biology </h5> | <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" style="text-indent: 3vw;"> 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> |
− | + | <p align="justify" style="text-indent: 3vw;"> 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> | |
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<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> | ||
− | <p align="justify">Creating <b>guidelines</b> and a <b>legal framework</b> is essential for safety reasons and to reassure the general public. In Europe, there is no law specifically concerning synthetic biology but synthetic biology is framed by <b>common biology laws</b>. In France, the first laws concerning bioethics were put in place in 1994. [2] Before, general laws existed but did not deal with the particular ethical aspects which come from biology and using living organisms. On the 1st of July, the law n°94-548 presents guidelines for data processing in medical research. This updated the law n°78-17 (1978) relative to informatic and big data processing in all fields of research. Quickly after, on the 29th of July 1994, two laws were put in place: law n° 94-653 and 94-654 which deal with respecting the human body and products which come from the human body. These laws cover the protection of patients which was then introduced in the Civil code, organizational rules in medical sectors and guidelines to be put in place to protect people involved in medical research programs. In march 2002, patient rights are put in place and certain end of life guidelines are discussed. Futile medical care is banned. <b>Ethic committees</b> set up by the European Union also exist to complement these laws for example, the European Commission, the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies, the Inter-service Group on Ethics and EU policies, and the Executive Management for Research and Innovation </p> | + | <p align="justify" <p align="justify" style="text-indent: 3vw;"> Creating <b>guidelines</b> and a <b>legal framework</b> is essential for safety reasons and to reassure the general public. In Europe, there is no law specifically concerning synthetic biology but synthetic biology is framed by <b>common biology laws</b>. In France, the first laws concerning bioethics were put in place in 1994. [2] Before, general laws existed but did not deal with the particular ethical aspects which come from biology and using living organisms. On the 1st of July, the law n°94-548 presents guidelines for data processing in medical research. This updated the law n°78-17 (1978) relative to informatic and big data processing in all fields of research. Quickly after, on the 29th of July 1994, two laws were put in place: law n° 94-653 and 94-654 which deal with respecting the human body and products which come from the human body. These laws cover the protection of patients which was then introduced in the Civil code, organizational rules in medical sectors and guidelines to be put in place to protect people involved in medical research programs. In march 2002, patient rights are put in place and certain end of life guidelines are discussed. Futile medical care is banned. <b>Ethic committees</b> set up by the European Union also exist to complement these laws for example, the European Commission, the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies, the Inter-service Group on Ethics and EU policies, and the Executive Management for Research and Innovation </p> |
− | <p align="justify">Specifically for synthetic biology, a European project called <b>SYNBIOSAFE</b> approved by the European Commission has focused on ethics and safety of synthetic biology. In 2012, it published an <a href="http://www.biofaction.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/igem-biosafety-2013.pdf" target="_blank">article</a> concerning the bioethical and biosafety attentions in iGEM competitions.These two types of frameworks help the researcher to answer to many ethical questions in the clearest way possible. | + | <p align="justify" <p align="justify" style="text-indent: 3vw;"> Specifically for synthetic biology, a European project called <b>SYNBIOSAFE</b> approved by the European Commission has focused on ethics and safety of synthetic biology. In 2012, it published an <a href="http://www.biofaction.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/igem-biosafety-2013.pdf" target="_blank">article</a> concerning the bioethical and biosafety attentions in iGEM competitions. These two types of frameworks help the researcher to answer to many ethical questions in the clearest way possible. Therefore, not only law may limit synthetic biology. Aspects concerning <b>Politics, Economy, and Philosophy</b> could influence the bioethics questions.</p> |
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<h5 align="center" > Why do we need Ethics commitees? Interview with Mr FAUCHER </h5> | <h5 align="center" > Why do we need Ethics commitees? Interview with Mr FAUCHER </h5> | ||
− | <p align="justify"> On the 29th of July, Savandara and Charlotte had the possibility to meet with Mr Jacques Faucher, doctor, priest and founder of the regional Ethics commitee "l'Espace Bioéthique Aquitain". Mr FAUCHER generously accepted to come to our lab at the European Institute of Chemistry and Biology (IECB) in order to talk to us about the importance of bioethics in the field of synthetic Biology. </p> | + | <p align="justify" <p align="justify" style="text-indent: 3vw;"> On the 29th of July, Savandara and Charlotte had the possibility to meet with Mr Jacques Faucher, doctor, priest and founder of the regional Ethics commitee "l'Espace Bioéthique Aquitain". Mr FAUCHER generously accepted to come to our lab at the European Institute of Chemistry and Biology (IECB) in order to talk to us about the importance of bioethics in the field of synthetic Biology. </p> |
<img style="width:38vw;height:28vw;align:center;" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/e/e0/Bordeaux_Ethics.jpg "> | <img style="width:38vw;height:28vw;align:center;" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/e/e0/Bordeaux_Ethics.jpg "> | ||
<p align="justify"> When Mr Potter, American oncologist and surgeon, invents the word <b> ethics </b> in the 1970's and writes his book <i> Bioethics: a bridge to the future </i> he pioneers the questions to come asking himsef questions which go beyond medecine such as: does life have a future on this planet? Questions which have lead to the conclusion that <b> not everything that can be done should be done.</b> Since the modification of a plant's genome or of a unicellular organism's genome is tolerated, what about the human genome? In other words, are there barriers to put on living organisms? Should we have the right to experiment on humans in order to widen our knowledge on the human body? </p> | <p align="justify"> When Mr Potter, American oncologist and surgeon, invents the word <b> ethics </b> in the 1970's and writes his book <i> Bioethics: a bridge to the future </i> he pioneers the questions to come asking himsef questions which go beyond medecine such as: does life have a future on this planet? Questions which have lead to the conclusion that <b> not everything that can be done should be done.</b> Since the modification of a plant's genome or of a unicellular organism's genome is tolerated, what about the human genome? In other words, are there barriers to put on living organisms? Should we have the right to experiment on humans in order to widen our knowledge on the human body? </p> |
Revision as of 09:46, 15 August 2015