Team:Reading/Practices
Human Practices
Synthetic Biology is becoming an increasingly important field. It is offering a new source of innovation and progress for some of the 21st century’s most difficult problems, such as providing reliable electricity to some of the most inaccessible and poverty stricken areas without causing extensive and irreversible damage to the environment. The use of synthetic biology is ushering in a new era of sustainable development by improving access to power without harming our environment in the process. However, like all novel technologies, these are mainly untested and untried and so require new regulatory legislation as well as presenting new ethical issues which need to be considered.
Regulation
The aim of our project was to build a photovoltaic cell which could provide cheap and reliable electricity to provide power to a larger number of people, who would normally not have access to this, without compromising the environment. As a result of intended use of the design and the use of biological matter there are significant regulatory measures in place to consider. Regulation can vary from an international, such as EU regulation and other international framework to a national government level. These are then implemented by the university, or organisation, which the research is being undertaken. The University of Reading itself has its own control and regulatory methods which follow that of UK and EU guidance and control genetic modification research within the university itself.
Genetically Modified Organisms: Regulation
International Regulation
This is regulation which applies to multiple countries. The main international regulation at its highest level is the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety1. This agreement controls the movement of genetically modified organisms across borders in an attempt to minimise risk of environmental damage as a result of contamination and to prevent damage to human health.
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