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Synthetic biology: Missing the point

Nature volume 510, page 218 (2014)Cite this article

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Volker ter Meulen warns that if environmental groups and others exaggerate the risks of synthetic biology it could promote over-regulation, which he says happened for genetically modified organisms (Nature 509, 135; 2014). But the point of supporting synthetic biology is not about making sure that science can go wherever it wants: it is about making the type of society people want to live in.

In the United States, for example, the rapid and uncritical introduction of genetically modified organisms prevented debate on issues such as alternative innovation pathways, and the impact on biodiversity and pest resistance. Many believe that these issues would have been better addressed through earlier and broader public discussion of the uncertainties surrounding transgenic organisms (see S. Jasanoff Designs on Nature Princeton Univ. Press; 2005).

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  1. Sam Weiss Evans: On behalf of 21 correspondents (see Supplementary Information for full list).

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  1. University of California, Berkeley, USA

    Sam Weiss Evans

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  1. Sam Weiss Evans
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Evans, S. Synthetic biology: Missing the point. Nature 510, 218 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/510218b

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