IGNACIO, Richelle Angelika E.

4Bio2

Aug. 19, 2016

A reaction on Synthetic Biology

Synthetic biology is probably one of the underestimated and
uncommon fields of biology. There is no one definition to define this field
because of the many technological and biological approaches involved.
Broadly speaking, it is usually referred to, as the application of engineering
principles to biology and its goal is to create a living organism in the laboratory
from scratch. Looking at the bigger picture with its goal in mind, the possible
benefits are endless. Most of its applications proposed by scientists are being
valued in medicine and industry where production of cheaper drugs, ecofriendly way to fuel our cars, and targeted therapies for diseases like cancer
are just a few among many other things they want to give solution to.
However, ethical issues were raised once the idea of synthetic biology
came out. One of which is the unpredictable amount of risk it can bring.
Considering that they are new and artificial organisms, there is no way to
know what their long-term effects are unless put in a real-life situation. They
have to be robust and safe before being introduced to the world. Another
ethical issue addressed is the idea that technology has gone way too far for
man to realize. Although the idea of the world is to evolve and innovate, the
extent of where technology applies has become too vast that it may impede
the natural course of life. Also, the fact that man can create a living organism
from nonliving things could portray the notion of playing God. Man with the
power at his own hands might abuse it and lead to a tragedy we could not
reverse.
As for me, the idea of synthetic biology is still so new and there is still
so much that we could learn from it. It all depends on how the field is being
used and the moderation of its applications in real life. It is both exciting and
alarming what the world has come to. We are in the era where the concept of
spontaneous generation might actually come to life.