Shaping the future of synthetic biology.

Abstract

Over the past few years, a debate has been taking place within the Convention on Biological Diversity regarding the risks and benefits of organisms, components, and products arising from synthetic biology techniques to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. If synthetic biology were recognized as a new and emerging issue, the Convention would be able to develop rules governing its use. The voices and expertise of the scientific community have been mostly silent in this debate. In October 2014, about 20 of the 168 countries that are signatories to the Convention determined that there was insufficient information to make this designation and established an online forum and expert working group to collect more information in order to make a final recommendation to the Conference of the Parties by December 2016 ([ 1 ][1]). The United States is not a signatory to the Convention and therefore has limited influence on the process and final decisions. Although the United States will not be bound by the Convention, any researcher or company planning on developing or deploying synthetic biology in the other 168 countries that are signatories will be affected. It is therefore critical that the scientific community become actively engaged in this process. There is an open call for information related to synthetic biology to be submitted by 30 April ([ 2 ][2]). Issues being considered include (i) how to address the relationship between synthetic biology and biological diversity; (ii) similarities and differences between living modified organisms (as defined in the Cartagena Protocol) and organisms, components, and products of synthetic biology techniques; (iii) operational definition of synthetic biology, comprising inclusion and exclusion criteria; (iv) potential benefits and risks of organisms, components, and products arising from synthetic biology techniques to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and related human health and socioeconomic impacts relevant to the mandate of the Convention and its Protocols; and (v) best practices on risk assessment and monitoring regimes currently used by Parties to the Convention and other governments. There will also be an online forum of experts discussing these issues, beginning on 27 April. If members of the scientific community cannot participate fully as designated experts, they can submit information through the Woodrow Wilson Center, which is a member of the expert online forum. 1. [↵][3] Convention on Biological Diversity, Biosafety Clearing-House, Tentative calendar of activities related to synthetic biology ( ). 2. [↵][4] Submission of Information on Synthetic Biology ([www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2015/ntf-2015-013-synthetic-biology-en.pdf?=download][5]) [1]: #ref-1 [2]: #ref-2 [3]: #xref-ref-1-1 View reference 1 in text [4]: #xref-ref-2-1 View reference 2 in text [5]: http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2015/ntf-2015-013-synthetic-biology-en.pdf?=download