Table 1 Timeline of events leading up to the synthetic DNA guidance
From: Synthetic DNA firms embrace hazardous agents guidance but remain wary of automated 'best-match'
December 2006 | The US government's National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity issues a report recommending the establishment of “uniform and standardized screening practices among providers of synthetic DNA.” |
June 2007 | The US Government convenes an interagency working group on synthetic nucleic acid screening. |
November 3, 2009 | Companies of the International Association Synthetic Biology (Entelechon, ATG:biosynthetics, Biomax, febit and Sloning Biotechnology) present their “Code of Conduct” for the screening of gene orders and customers. |
November 19, 2009 | Companies of the International Gene Synthesis Consortium (Blue Heron Biotechnology, DNA2.0, GENEART, GenScript and Integrated DNA Technologies) release a similar set of 'best practices' guidelines, the “Harmonized Screening Protocol.” |
November 29, 2009 | The US Department of Health and Human Services releases a draft version of its Screening Framework Guidance for Providers of Synthetic Double-Stranded DNA for public comment. |
January 11, 2010 | The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) hosts a meeting for policy specialists and scientists from academia and industry on “Minimizing the Risks of Synthetic DNA: Scientists' Views on the U.S. Government's Guidance on Synthetic Genomics.” |
January 26, 2010 | Public comment period ends on the draft guidance. |
October 13, 2010 | HHS publishes its final version of the Screening Framework Guidance. |
