Synthetic Biology

Synthetic biology brings together engineering and the life sciences in order to design and construct new biological parts, devices and systems that do not currently exist in the natural world or to tweak the designs of existing biological systems. Synthetic biologists, engaged in a kind of extreme genetic engineering, hope to construct designer organisms that perform specific tasks such as producing biofuels or other high-value compounds.

'Black Box’ Biotechnology
Integration of artificial intelligence with synthetic biology 5 Sep 2024
Voices from COP15 in Montreal
An interview with Christine von Weizsäcker of ECOROPA 8 Dec 2022
Protecting a Legacy of Precaution at COP-15
Bringing Horizon Scanning, Technology Assessment and Monitoring into the future work of the CBD 24 Nov 2022

Reports on Synthetic Biology

'Black Box’ Biotechnology
Gene Drive Organisms
Genetically-Engineered Clothes
Haiti, Essential Oils & Synthetic Biology
more reports
Is the UN Convention on Biodiversity losing the precautionary plot?
9 Nov 2022
Box containing a card game with illustrations from the game
Our new game "Disruption!: a battle for the future of food"
12 Feb 2021
Butterfly in Glen Art Reserve, East Gippsland, Australia
Has the synthetic biology industry hijacked IUCN?
Gates-funded synbio lobby firm Emerging Ag Inc takes driving seat in IUCN discussion on biodiversity and synbio. 3 Sep 2020
Gene Drive Organisms
An introduction to a dangerous new technology putting Africans at risk 2 Dec 2019
ETC Podcast Episode #1: Gene drives in Africa
11 Nov 2019
Was world conservation agency's report on genetic engineering and gene drive organisms rigged?
Clear evidence of bias and conflicts of interest found by monitoring group 8 Jul 2019
more articles