Building biosecurity for synthetic biology

• Published in: Molecular systems biology 2020-07, Vol.16 (7), p.e9723-n/a
• Main Authors: Trump, Benjamin D, Galaitsi, SE, Appleton, Evan, Bleijs, Diederik A, Florin, Marie‐Valentine, Gollihar, Jimmy D, Hamilton, R Alexander, Kuiken, Todd, Lentzos, Filippa, Mampuys, Ruth, Merad, Myriam, Novossiolova, Tatyana, Oye, Kenneth, Perkins, Edward, Garcia‐Reyero, Natàlia, Rhodes, Catherine, Linkov, Igor
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological & chemical weapons; Biology; Biosafety; Biosecurity; Botulinum toxin; Commentary; Consortia; Containment of Biohazards - methods; Containment of Biohazards - standards; DNA, Recombinant - genetics; DNA, Recombinant - metabolism; DNA, Recombinant - pharmacology; EMBO41; EMBO47; Genes; Genetic engineering; Genetic modification; Genetically engineered organisms; Genetically modified organisms; Genomes; Humans; Industrial Development; Internationality; Medicine; Organisms, Genetically Modified; Policy Making; Recombinant DNA; Risk Factors; Security; Social Sciences; Synthetic biology; Synthetic Biology - methods; Virulence - drug effects; Virulence - genetics
• ISSN: 1744-4292; 1744-4292
• DOI: 10.15252/msb.20209723

The fast‐paced field of synthetic biology is fundamentally changing the global biosecurity framework. Current biosecurity regulations and strategies are based on previous governance paradigms for pathogen‐oriented security, recombinant DNA research, and broader concerns related to genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Many scholarly discussions and biosecurity practitioners are therefore concerned that synthetic biology outpaces established biosafety and biosecurity measures to prevent deliberate and malicious or inadvertent and accidental misuse of synthetic biology's processes or products. This commentary proposes three strategies to improve biosecurity: Security must be treated as an investment in the future applicability of the technology; social scientists and policy makers should be engaged early in technology development and forecasting; and coordination among global stakeholders is necessary to ensure acceptable levels of risk. Graphical Abstract Biosecurity policies and practices must be updated to accommodate the novel challenges associated with synthetic biology and to maximize technological benefits while minimizing its dual‐use potential. This Commentary proposes three strategies to improve biosecurity.