Post 14

In this post I am going to argue that the pace of synthetic biology is too rapid and has led to unintended consequences in facets of religion, society, and the corporate world. When the public becomes aware of a new technology or invention, companies that focus on maximizing profit usually commercialize the product too quickly. An example of this is best represented by the development of artificial “fruit drinks” that do not contain sugar. Many nutritionists and doctors realize that these artificial drinks may cause more harm than good to anyone who consumes them regularly as opposed to regular orange juice. Perhaps, if the pace of innovation were slowed, people would realize that this drink is not a superior alternative just because it has no sugar.

In the past, physics and chemistry experienced similar evolutions that biology is now facing in the twenty-first century. One of the biggest breakthroughs in chemistry was the discovery of how to mass-produce ammonia. Although Haber’s discovery of how to mass-produce ammonia brought about much good in the agricultural community, it also allowed the Nazis to develop chemical weapons (Synthetic Biology 31). Similarly in physics, Einstein’s theories of relativity paved the way for nuclear technology and harnessing its energy. Unfortunately, this facilitated the race to create the first atomic bomb (Synthetic Biology 32). Both these examples demonstrate “dual-use research of concern” (DURC), or work that has beneficial and dangerous consequences (Synthetic Biology 32).

Synthetic biology is also progressing at a dangerous rate and the potential of bioweapons increases every day. Many militaries across the world, probably including the USA, are trying to engineer viruses such as the H5N1, which affected only birds, however the humans that came in contact with them suffered a 59% mortality rate. Just imagine if Ebola were developed in a scientist’s lab for a military. In western Africa, those who contract Ebola have a 70% mortality rate.

Synthetic biology’s rapid pace has also ignored the Catholic Church and their complaints. The Church believes that synthetic biology is “playing god” which is essentially against their core values that God created the earth and all life. It also attacks another belief that everything was made in His image and therefore, any bioengineering or synthetic biology is seen as “disturbing” flawed perfection (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Despite that many scientists may call this “backward thinking”, it is important that the pace of synthetic biology be slowed so societal, economic, and religious issues can be solved, or at the very least, addressed thoroughly and the negative consequences of DURC do not occur.

Sources

Dabrock, Peter. "Playing God? Synthetic Biology as a Theological and Ethical Challenge." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 10 Oct. 2009. Web. 6 Nov. 2014. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2759421/>.

Garrett, Laurie. "The Promise and Perils of the SynBio Revolution." Biology's Brave New World. Print.