Human Practices 1 Overview 2 Metaphors We Live By, Metaphors We Build Life By 3 Outreach 4 Cooperation and Collaboration 5 Does intellectual property work as intended for synthetic biology?

Human Practices

Overview

When reflecting on human practices over the course of our iGEM project, several major themes emerged. We considered major policy issues (intellectual property policy, biosecurity, licensing), the extent and nature of public opposition to synthetic biology, research and bioethics, outreach, collaboration, and decision-making in conditions of uncertainty.

Metaphors We Live By, Metaphors We Build Life By

Outreach

- We dramatically increased awareness and visibility of iGEM and synthetic biology on UVA Grounds as part of recruitment over the past year, attending as a group or running informational tables at events related to bioethics, engineering, and synthetic biology.
- We organized and helped lead a Flash Seminar on Ethical Issues in Synthetic Biology with a member of the Presidential Bioethics Commission. Flash Seminars are one-time student-organized “learning flash mobs” open to undergraduate and graduate students, community members, and faculty, during which people from diverse backgrounds can meet and discuss topics of interest (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/20/AR2011022002666.html).

Ethical Issues in Synthetic Biology
Led by Bioethics, Philosophy, and Public Health Professor John Arras
Two years ago, the J. Craig Venter Institute announced that it had created the world's first self-replicating synthetic genome in a bacterial cell of a different species. The discovery prompted many people to consider the benefits and drawbacks of the emerging field of synthetic biology. While new innovations present opportunities for progress in clean energy products, pollution control, affordable food, vaccines and other medicines, they also introduce harmful risks to humans and communities. This seminar will focus on the safety and security issues posed by the new technology and discuss some of the future-oriented concerns involved with human enhancement.

Cooperation and Collaboration

- Solicited and offered skills using NTMU’s Matchmaker: https://2012.igem.org/Team:NTNU_Trondheim/Matchmaker
- Our advisor was able to help Team Groningen: https://2012.igem.org/Team:Groningen/international_cooperation
- Provided feedback to Team Grenoble on their design for a BioBrick Safety Sheet: https://2012.igem.org/Team:NTNU_Trondheim/Matchmaker
- Responded to UBC’s survey on intellectual property: https://2012.igem.org/Team:British_Columbia/Human_Practices/IP_FAQ

Does intellectual property work as intended for synthetic biology?