In genetic engineering, a gene or two are manipulated. What if scientists indulge in digital writing of genetic code and tinker with plants and animals?
Environment activists warn that synthetic biology or extreme genetic engineering is a fast emerging threat to biodiversity, as it will change the genetic make-up of species concerned. Extreme genetic engineering involves digital writing of genetic code while conventional genetic engineering or modification tinkers with a gene or two.
The CBD Alliance, which is fighting against synthetic biology, has accused the 11th Conference of Parties (COP) to United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity of burying this important agenda during the discussions.
It hides one of the most important issues under consideration at COP 11: whether the CBD should accept synthetic biology as a new and emerging issue or put the brakes on this risky and rapidly developing technology.
“Synthetic biology is the use of computer assisted, biological engineering to design and construct new synthetic biological parts, devices and systems, and to redesign existing biological organisms. The technology works with hundreds of genes at a time to create novel synthetic organisms that never existed before,” says Eric Hoffmann of the Friends of the Earth.
The synthetic biology industry was reportedly worth $1.1 billion during COP 10, is worth $2.1 billion today, and is expected to be worth $4.5 billion by COP 12, two years hence, he said.
Mr Eric Hoffmann said synthetic organisms released into the environment could lead to genetic contamination, passing on synthetic genes and novel traits to natural organisms. These contaminated synthetic organisms could create or become new class of invasive species, taking over entire ecosystems, or could pump pollutants directly into the environment.
He demanded moratorium on the environmental release and commercial use of synthetic biology.