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Responses from Renowned Scientists

Beatrix Süß (Technical University Darmstadt, Germany)

What would you say to convince a student to undertake studies in synthetic biology?

“Synthetic Biology is characterized by its enormous interdisciplinarity, bringing together scientists from different disciplines. […] I feel that it is necessary to implement this thinking in the curriculum of our universities.”

Eytran Ruppin (University of Maryland, USA)

How does synthetic biology impact medicine?

“Synthetic Biology is at a stage[…] where there is a lot of promise or a lot of hype and yet you need to deliver.”

Gaudenz Danuser (Harvard University, Boston, USA)

Which is the best way in your opinion to educate the new generations in synthetic biology?

“Synthetic Biology is happening and therefore we need students who can do it and critically think about it.”

Ioannis Xenarios (University of Lausanne, Switzerland

How does synthetic biology impact society?

“A better access to a certain type biotechnology products at a cost that is reasonable. And ultimately, […] help mankind take the next challenge.”

Luis Serrano (Design of Biological Systems, Barcelona, Spain)

Can you define synthetic biology?

“For me synthetic biology differs from biotechnology that it uses rational engineering and design.”

Philippe Bastien (Max-Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany)

What would you say to convince a student to undertake studies in synthetic biology?

“I would try to convince you that curiosity is what makes it really fascinating.”

Roy Wollmann (University of California, San Diego, USA)

How far is a future where synthetic biology applications are part of everyday life?

“Tremendous effect on the scientific community: The availability of new tools […] will open up a whole new field of experiments that we can do that we weren’t able to do before.”

Ulricke Gaul (Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany)

What is the biggest risk associated to synthetic biology?

“There is always the danger when you create something new that has never existed before, that if you release it into the world at large that it might harm something.”

Uri Alon (Weizmann Institute of Science, Rechovot, Israel

How far is a future where synthetic biology applications are part of everyday life?

“It’s hard for me to believe that the century will end without a profound incorporation of understanding of biology into everyday’s life.”

Victor De Lorenzo (Centro National de Biotechnología, Madrid, Spain)

Throughout the years how did your opinion on synthetic biology change? Did you accomplish something that you thought would never be possible?

“My view of synthetic biology has changed in the last few years from being just a mere extention of molecular genetics […] into something that allows us to understand and also to reprogram biological systems with a degree of predictability.”

Walter Kolch (University College Dublin, Ireland)

What are the qualities that distinguish a synthetic biologist from other scientists?

“A broad way of thinking and an open way of thinking, […] you also need to be inventive and actually finding the right applications. You need to be an allrounder.”