{"id":239,"date":"2010-05-20T18:27:39","date_gmt":"2010-05-20T18:27:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/imediata.org\/?p=239"},"modified":"2010-05-20T18:29:10","modified_gmt":"2010-05-20T18:29:10","slug":"synthia-is-alive-and-breeding-panacea-or-pandoras-box","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/imediata.org\/?p=239","title":{"rendered":">>Synthia is Alive …and Breeding: Panacea or Pandora’s Box?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"null\"
\nETC Group
\nNews Release
\n20 May 2010
\nwww.etcgroup.org<\/a><\/p>\n

As Craig Venter announces lab-made life, ETC Group calls for Global
\nMoratorium on Synthetic Biology.<\/p>\n

In a paper published today in the journal Science, the J. Craig Venter
\nInstitute and Synthetic Genomics Inc announced the laboratory creation of
\nthe world’s first self-reproducing organism whose entire genome was built
\nfrom scratch by a machine.(1) The construction of this synthetic organism,
\nanticipated and dubbed “Synthia” by the ETC Group three years ago, will
\nstir a firestorm of controversy over the ethics of building artificial life
\nand the implications of the largely unknown field of synthetic biology.<\/p>\n

Panacea, or…? According to today?s publication, “Synthia” could be a boon
\nto second-generation agrofuels making it ? theoretically ? possible to feed
\npeople and cars simultaneously. The article further suggests that Synthia,
\nor synthetic biology, could help clean up the environment, save us from
\nclimate change, and address the food crisis. “Synthia is not a
\none-stop-shop for all our societal woes,” disputes Pat Mooney, Executive
\nDirector of ETC Group, an international technology watchdog based in
\nCanada. ?It is much more likely to cause a whole new set of problems
\ngovernments and society are ill-prepared to address.”<\/p>\n

Pandora’s Box? “This is the quintessential Pandora?s box moment – like the
\nsplitting of the atom or the cloning of Dolly the sheep. We will all have
\nto deal with the fall-out from this alarming experiment,” comments Jim
\nThomas of the ETC Group. “Synthetic biology is a high-risk profit-driven
\nfield, building organisms out of parts that are still poorly understood.(2)
\nWe know that lab-created life-forms can escape, become biological weapons,
\nand that their use threatens existing natural biodiversity. Most worrying
\nof all, Craig Venter is handing this powerful technology to the world?s
\nmost irresponsible and environmentally damaging industry by partnering with
\nthe likes of BP and Exxon to hasten the commercialization of synthetic
\nlife-forms.”(3)<\/p>\n

Synthetic biology refers to the construction of novel life-forms using
\nsynthetic DNA made from off-the-shelf chemicals – a form of “extreme
\ngenetic engineering”. The team behind today?s announcement, led by
\ncontroversial scientist and entrepreneur Craig Venter, is associated with a
\nprivate company, Synthetic Genomics Inc, bankrolled by the US government
\nand energy behemoths BP and Exxon. Synthetic Genomics recently announced a
\n$600 million research and investment deal with Exxon Mobil in addition to a
\n2007 investment from BP for an undisclosed amount. Venter, who led the
\nprivate sector part of the human genome project ten years ago, has already
\napplied for patents related to Synthia’s technology.(4)<\/p>\n

Although high-profile backers of synthetic biology now occupy key positions
\nin the US Obama administration(5) there still remains no proper national or
\ninternational oversight of new high-risk, technologies that carry vast
\nimplications for humanity and the natural world. In 2006, ETC Group joined
\nwith other organizations to demand the formal, open and inclusive oversight
\nof synthetic biology(6) and have since called for a global halt on research
\npending the development of global regulations. ETC Group has reiterated
\nthat call at a scientific meeting of the United Nations Convention on
\nBiological Diversity in Nairobi attended by more than 100 governments.(7)<\/p>\n

Pandemonium? The lack of global rules governing the field also concerns
\nmany governments, illustrated by the biodiversity talks in Nairobi.
\nMundita Lim of the Philippines delegation to the CBD expressed her
\ncountry?s concerns “about the serious potential impacts of synthetic
\nbiology on biodiversity… we believe that there should be no field release
\nof synthetic life, cell or genome into the environment until thorough
\nscientific assessments have been conducted in a transparent, open and
\nparticipatory process involving all Parties, indigenous and local
\ncommunities that will all be potentially affected by these synthetic life
\nforms with unknown consequences on biodiversity, the environment and
\nlivelihoods.” Today?s announcement will give new urgency to the debate on
\nsynthetic biology and provide a dramatic example of the need for rigorous
\noversight over new technologies before their environmental or commercial
\nrelease is permitted.<\/p>\n

-30-<\/p>\n

—
\n1) Science, 20 May 2010, “Creation of a Bacterial Cell Controlled by a
\nChemically Synthesized Genome,” by D. Gibson; J.I. Glass; C. Lartigue; V.N.
\nNoskov; R.-Y. Chuang; M.A. Algire; M.G. Montague; L. Ma; M.M. Moodie; C.
\nMerryman; S. Vashee; R. Krishnakumar; N. Assad-Garcia; C.
\nAndrews-Pfannkoch; E.A. Denisova; L. Young; Z.-Q. Qi; T.H. Segall-Shapiro;
\nC.H. Calvey; P.P. Parmar; J.C. Venter at J. Craig Venter Institute in
\nRockville, MD; G.A. Benders; C.A. Hutchinson III; H.O. Smith; J.C. Venter
\nat J. Craig Venter Institute in San Diego, CA. The paper acknowledges
\n‘generous funding’ from Synthetic Genomics Inc for this work, that three of
\nthe leaders of the scientific team hold executive positions at Synthetic
\nGenomics Inc and that the J Craig Venter Institute itself holds stock in
\nSynthetic Genomics Inc.<\/p>\n

2) For a graphic overview of the investors behind Synthetic Genomics, Inc,
\nsee ETC Group’s 2007 Poster “The Men & Money Behind Synthia.” available
\nhere: http:\/\/www.etcgroup.org\/en\/node\/4797<\/p>\n

3) Some details of Synthetic Genomics deal with BP are available at
\nhttp:\/\/www.syntheticgenomics.com\/media\/bpfaq.html and reporting of their
\ndeal with Exxon Mobil is available at http:\/\/nyti.ms\/sf5A6<\/p>\n

4) ETC Group News Release, 7 June 2007, “Patenting Pandora?s Bug, Goodbye,
\nDolly…Hello, Synthia! J. Craig Venter Institute Seeks Monopoly Patents on
\nthe World’s First-Ever Human-Made Life Form” online at
\nhttp:\/\/www.etcgroup.org\/en\/node\/631<\/p>\n

5) US Energy secretary Steven Chu was feted by press as “The Secretary of
\nSynthetic Biology” when he was named to office last year (see
\nhttp:\/\/bit.ly\/9pMDp8), reflecting his previous role as head of Lawrence
\nBerkeley National Lab where he oversaw a $600 million dollar investment by
\nBP in the university?s synthetic biology labs. On the other side of that
\ndeal was BP chief scientist Steve Koonin, now Undersecretary for Science in
\nthe DOE. Koonin reportedly spearheaded BP’s investment in Synthetic
\nGenomics Inc.<\/p>\n

6) Open Letter on Synthetic Biology from Civil Society, May 2006:
\nhttp:\/\/www.etcgroup.org\/en\/materials\/publications.html?pub_id=11<\/p>\n

7) ETC Group currently has three staff members in Nairobi at the meeting of
\nthe Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice to
\nthe UN Convention on Biological Diversity (SBSTTA 14). The topic of
\nsynthetic biology is under discussion at SBSTTA 14 under an item concerning
\nthe biodiversity risks of next generation biofuels.<\/p>\n

Notes to Editors:<\/p>\n

ETC Group is an international civil society organization based in Ottawa,
\nCanada. We conduct research, education and advocacy on issues related to
\nthe social and economic impacts of new technologies on marginalized peoples
\n? especially in the global South. We look at issues from a human rights
\nperspective but also address global governance and corporate concentration.
\nAll ETC Group publications are available free of charge on our website:
\nwww.etcgroup.org<\/p>\n

ETC Group has been monitoring developments in synthetic biology for the
\npast five years and has pioneered civil society activism around the field.
\nIn 2006 we joined dozens of other civil society organisations to protest
\nplans for voluntary governance of synthetic biology. In 2007 we released
\n“Extreme Genetic Engineering” the first ever critical introduction to the
\nfield (available at http:\/\/www.etcgroup.org\/en\/node\/602). We also exposed
\nplans by J. Craig Venter and his colleagues to patent their planned
\nsynthetic organism, which we dubbed ‘Synthia’. A full archive of ETC
\nGroup’s writings, comments and press releases on the topic of Synthetic
\nBiology is available at http:\/\/www.etcgroup.org\/en\/issues\/synthetic_biology
\nand video, audio and graphic resources on the topic are available at
\nhttp:\/\/www.etcgroup.org\/en\/materials\/video_audio_library<\/p>\n

ETC Group has three staff members in Nairobi at the meeting of the
\nScientific Body to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (SBSTTA 14).
\nThe topics currently under discussion at SBSTTA include the biodiversity
\nrisks of next generation biofuels and new and emerging threats to
\nbiodiversity.<\/p>\n

For more information and background:<\/p>\n

To arrange interviews with Pat Mooney or Jim Thomas, please contact Diana
\nBronson.
\nDiana Bronson – diana@etcgroup.org; phone +1 514 273 6661 cell: 514 629
\n9236
\nPat Mooney – etc@etcgroup.org phone +1 613 241 2267 extension 23
\nJim Thomas – jim@etcgroup.org phone +1 514 273 9994 cell: 514 516 5759<\/p>\n

In Nairobi, Kenya:<\/p>\n

English interviews:
\nNeth Dano, neth@etcgroup.org cell & SMS + 63 917 532 9369; Nairobi: +254
\n712 605 622<\/p>\n

Spanish interviews:
\nSilvia Ribeiro, silvia@etcgroup.org cell & SMS +52 1 55 2653 3330; Nairobi
\ncell: +254 712 601 660<\/p>\n

French interviews:
\nMolly Kane, molly@etcgroup.org cell & SMS: + 1-613-797 6421; Nairobi: + 254
\n712 600 644<\/p>\n

Twitter – ETC Group will be putting out occasional updates on this news
\nstory on Twitter using the hashtag #SYNTHIA -we encourage other to use the
\nsame tag.<\/p>\n

Join us on Facebook
\nhttp:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pages\/Stop-Synthetic-Life\/122842021072292<\/p>\n

—
\nIf you do not want to receive any more newsletters,
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\nhttp:\/\/www.etcgroup.org\/phplist\/?p=forward&uid=fb9f1fdebf54246bfee2c6e74dd91b8a&mid=80<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

ETC Group News Release 20 May 2010 www.etcgroup.org As Craig Venter announces lab-made life, ETC Group calls for Global Moratorium on Synthetic Biology. In a paper published today in the journal Science, the J. Craig Venter Institute and Synthetic Genomics Inc announced the laboratory creation of the world’s first self-reproducing organism whose entire genome was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-239","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-biodiversidade-imediata"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/imediata.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/239","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/imediata.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/imediata.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/imediata.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/imediata.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=239"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/imediata.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/239\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":244,"href":"https:\/\/imediata.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/239\/revisions\/244"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/imediata.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=239"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/imediata.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=239"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/imediata.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=239"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}