"

From 2012.igem.org

Human Practices

The international genetically engieneered machine contest is raising a whole generation of future scientist trained in the methods of the rather new field of synthetic biology. With the emerging of every new technology there are not only chances but also risks, uncertenties, and worries.
To face these problems and to communicate possibilities and risks its important to eliminate missunderstandings, develop a common language and shape fundamental ethics as well as limits and borders that should not be crossed for the greater good.

One of our members Pablo Grassi took the challenge and sat down thinking about synthetic biology and the problems its currently facing by becoming one the most discussed topics of live sciences. In his Essay: "LIVING MACHINES’, METAPHORS AND FUNCTIONAL EXPLANATIONS - Towards an epistemological foundation of the synthetic biology" he writes about one of the biggest missunderstandings since the dawn of syntehtic biology: "The living machine paradoxon"