2022 HTT Symposium

2022 HTT Symposium, July 12, 2022, via Zoom

Topic: Synthetic Biology

Synthetic biology is a broad, emerging field that encompasses advancements in biology, chemistry, and engineering to create new or altered biological systems that perform novel functions. Redesigning organisms so they can aid in fighting disease, cleaning up pollution, providing nutrition to food insecure regions, etc., holds the promise of a better world. Industry’s embrace of synthetic biology technologies seems inevitable given the economic benefits they offer.

Speakers explore implications of synthetic biology

The ability to modify or synthesize entire genomes carries significant ethical, social, environmental, and security implications. How should these technologies be applied and who should monitor and govern their use?

To explore the complex set of questions the field of synthetic biology raises, this symposium brought together six subject-matter experts to talk about gene editing, microorganism design, animal modification, transplantation, national security risks the field presents, and more. The speakers provided a broad scientific perspective to facilitate research collaborations and distill the key issues, thereby better informing the decision makers responsible for framing safe and secure laws, regulations, and policies.