Comments on: Synthetic biology, ethics and the hacker culture http://2020science.org/2008/06/13/8613-synthetic-biology-ethics-and-the-hacker-culture/ Providing a clear perspective on developing science and technology responsibly Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:00:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Evan http://2020science.org/2008/06/13/8613-synthetic-biology-ethics-and-the-hacker-culture/#comment-153479 Evan Fri, 23 Dec 2011 06:39:16 +0000 http://2020science.wordpress.com/?p=245#comment-153479 In reference to Daisy's comment, even tinkering with bacteria may raise ethical concerns associated with a wide range of dangers. Even the tools associated with biohacking could be potentially harmful if allowed to intermingle with wild genetic pools. Antibiotic resistance is a great example where releasing strains of non-harmful bacteria (whether by accident, or on purpose) with resistance to important antibiotics can lead to resistance in pathogenic species through horizontal gene transfer. I think there should be some serious caution in all aspects of biology when mixing genes. I'm not against it at all, but the level of stringency by which the academic (and even industrial) standards are formed may not apply in a garage lab. As a lab assistant, I spend probably about 20% of my time autoclaving, sterilizing, disinfecting, and otherwise, simply to reduce the possibility of releasing recombinant organisms. This doesn't just apply to rats or plants or people; all it takes is one slip of a biohacker and one might change the biological landscape irreversibly. In reference to Daisy’s comment, even tinkering with bacteria may raise ethical concerns associated with a wide range of dangers. Even the tools associated with biohacking could be potentially harmful if allowed to intermingle with wild genetic pools. Antibiotic resistance is a great example where releasing strains of non-harmful bacteria (whether by accident, or on purpose) with resistance to important antibiotics can lead to resistance in pathogenic species through horizontal gene transfer.

I think there should be some serious caution in all aspects of biology when mixing genes. I’m not against it at all, but the level of stringency by which the academic (and even industrial) standards are formed may not apply in a garage lab. As a lab assistant, I spend probably about 20% of my time autoclaving, sterilizing, disinfecting, and otherwise, simply to reduce the possibility of releasing recombinant organisms.

This doesn’t just apply to rats or plants or people; all it takes is one slip of a biohacker and one might change the biological landscape irreversibly.

]]> By: Adam Eisenberg http://2020science.org/2008/06/13/8613-synthetic-biology-ethics-and-the-hacker-culture/#comment-103741 Adam Eisenberg Mon, 10 Jan 2011 04:06:15 +0000 http://2020science.wordpress.com/?p=245#comment-103741 I agree with you Timos, but if "biohacking" does infact grow and become something there will be war on it. It would start "biohacking wars" for there will be dispute and conflic within the "biohacking" community, like there is with digital hacking. I agree with you Timos, but if “biohacking” does infact grow and become something there will be war on it. It would start “biohacking wars” for there will be dispute and conflic within the “biohacking” community, like there is with digital hacking.

]]> By: Synthetic biology, ethics and the hacker culture http://2020science.org/2008/06/13/8613-synthetic-biology-ethics-and-the-hacker-culture/#comment-79945 Synthetic biology, ethics and the hacker culture Tue, 17 Aug 2010 09:02:06 +0000 http://2020science.wordpress.com/?p=245#comment-79945 [...] Originally posted June 13 2008 [...] [...] Originally posted June 13 2008 [...]

]]> By: Andrew Maynard http://2020science.org/2008/06/13/8613-synthetic-biology-ethics-and-the-hacker-culture/#comment-49874 Andrew Maynard Thu, 18 Feb 2010 14:14:43 +0000 http://2020science.wordpress.com/?p=245#comment-49874 Thanks Timos. It's interesting that, since writing this, the "biohacker" movement has continued to grow rather rapidly. Think we could be in for some interesting times. Thanks Timos. It’s interesting that, since writing this, the “biohacker” movement has continued to grow rather rapidly. Think we could be in for some interesting times.

]]> By: Timos Papagatsias http://2020science.org/2008/06/13/8613-synthetic-biology-ethics-and-the-hacker-culture/#comment-49871 Timos Papagatsias Thu, 18 Feb 2010 14:01:53 +0000 http://2020science.wordpress.com/?p=245#comment-49871 Very good article, indeed raising many questions. I believe that science and technology could well be in the reach of aspiring "biohackers", as you call them, and if not, there's enough info out there and plenty of individuals that will somehow "innovate" and experiment with what is available to them. I don't know if we'll see a "war" between "biohackers" with no ethics and the "bio-police" (or something equivalent) similar to the "war" between hackers (see virus, worms etc developers) and the "net-police", but I think we should accept the possibility that it might happen. Again, very good read! Very good article, indeed raising many questions.
I believe that science and technology could well be in the reach of aspiring “biohackers”, as you call them, and if not, there’s enough info out there and plenty of individuals that will somehow “innovate” and experiment with what is available to them.
I don’t know if we’ll see a “war” between “biohackers” with no ethics and the “bio-police” (or something equivalent) similar to the “war” between hackers (see virus, worms etc developers) and the “net-police”, but I think we should accept the possibility that it might happen.
Again, very good read!

]]> By: 2020 Science in 2009 – and a chance to win a rather nifty 2020 Science Mug! http://2020science.org/2008/06/13/8613-synthetic-biology-ethics-and-the-hacker-culture/#comment-47597 2020 Science in 2009 – and a chance to win a rather nifty 2020 Science Mug! Sat, 06 Feb 2010 03:07:49 +0000 http://2020science.wordpress.com/?p=245#comment-47597 [...] Synthetic biology, ethics and the hacker culture (June 13) [...] [...] Synthetic biology, ethics and the hacker culture (June 13) [...]

]]> By: A new era for DIY science | lilykim.com http://2020science.org/2008/06/13/8613-synthetic-biology-ethics-and-the-hacker-culture/#comment-43602 A new era for DIY science | lilykim.com Fri, 08 Jan 2010 17:21:08 +0000 http://2020science.wordpress.com/?p=245#comment-43602 [...] Thoughtful post by Andrew Maynard of 2020science discussing the ethics of synthetic biology and biohackers [...] [...] Thoughtful post by Andrew Maynard of 2020science discussing the ethics of synthetic biology and biohackers [...]

]]> By: No Irish at iGEM | Journalist.ie http://2020science.org/2008/06/13/8613-synthetic-biology-ethics-and-the-hacker-culture/#comment-35489 No Irish at iGEM | Journalist.ie Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:22:14 +0000 http://2020science.wordpress.com/?p=245#comment-35489 [...] From Science Line: Now that Ireland finally has a large-scale effort in systems biology underway, maybe it’s time to establish a small-scale effort in building genetically engineered machines. The MIT-hosted International Genetically Engineered Machine competition (iGEM) for students is now in its seventh year – the final jamboree kicks off at Cambridge, Mass., on 30 Oct. However, an Irish team has yet to pull on the green jersey and splice some DNA for the nation – or, ahem, fiddle about with biobrick components for the nation. Synthetic biology – is it lego for genetic engineers or biology’s final frontier? Who knows? But the competition is one good way to get undergraduate students thinking along interdisciplinary lines, as their professors would have it; or thinking along biological hacker lines, as they would have it. Which is, of course, a whole other can of worms. [...] [...] From Science Line: Now that Ireland finally has a large-scale effort in systems biology underway, maybe it’s time to establish a small-scale effort in building genetically engineered machines. The MIT-hosted International Genetically Engineered Machine competition (iGEM) for students is now in its seventh year – the final jamboree kicks off at Cambridge, Mass., on 30 Oct. However, an Irish team has yet to pull on the green jersey and splice some DNA for the nation – or, ahem, fiddle about with biobrick components for the nation. Synthetic biology – is it lego for genetic engineers or biology’s final frontier? Who knows? But the competition is one good way to get undergraduate students thinking along interdisciplinary lines, as their professors would have it; or thinking along biological hacker lines, as they would have it. Which is, of course, a whole other can of worms. [...]

]]> By: links for 2009-10-11 « Blarney Fellow http://2020science.org/2008/06/13/8613-synthetic-biology-ethics-and-the-hacker-culture/#comment-32159 links for 2009-10-11 « Blarney Fellow Mon, 12 Oct 2009 01:07:01 +0000 http://2020science.wordpress.com/?p=245#comment-32159 [...] Synthetic biology, ethics and the hacker culture (tags: bio dna genetics hacking ethics community culture) [...] [...] Synthetic biology, ethics and the hacker culture (tags: bio dna genetics hacking ethics community culture) [...]

]]> By: Time to vote for your favorite science blogs http://2020science.org/2008/06/13/8613-synthetic-biology-ethics-and-the-hacker-culture/#comment-12596 Time to vote for your favorite science blogs Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:17:54 +0000 http://2020science.wordpress.com/?p=245#comment-12596 [...] Synthetic biology, ethics and the hacker culture [...] [...] Synthetic biology, ethics and the hacker culture [...]

]]> By: Are we ready for synthetic biology? http://2020science.org/2008/06/13/8613-synthetic-biology-ethics-and-the-hacker-culture/#comment-2234 Are we ready for synthetic biology? Wed, 25 Mar 2009 11:02:35 +0000 http://2020science.wordpress.com/?p=245#comment-2234 [...] And the current regulatory framework doesn’t even begin to touch on developments that lie outside its traditional sphere of control—including a growing “biohacking” community. [...] [...] And the current regulatory framework doesn’t even begin to touch on developments that lie outside its traditional sphere of control—including a growing “biohacking” community. [...]

]]> By: A 2020 Science Taster http://2020science.org/2008/06/13/8613-synthetic-biology-ethics-and-the-hacker-culture/#comment-868 A 2020 Science Taster Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:01:34 +0000 http://2020science.wordpress.com/?p=245#comment-868 [...] Synthetic biology, ethics and the hacker culture. What the heck is synthetic biology, is “biopunk” a real word, and are the 21st century equivalents of computer hackers going to reconfigure life as we know it?  I can’t promise any easy answers, but hopefully this post from June 2008 helps set the scene. [...] [...] Synthetic biology, ethics and the hacker culture. What the heck is synthetic biology, is “biopunk” a real word, and are the 21st century equivalents of computer hackers going to reconfigure life as we know it?  I can’t promise any easy answers, but hopefully this post from June 2008 helps set the scene. [...]

]]> By: Biohacking—synthetic biology for the technologically marginalized « 2020 Science http://2020science.org/2008/06/13/8613-synthetic-biology-ethics-and-the-hacker-culture/#comment-17 Biohacking—synthetic biology for the technologically marginalized « 2020 Science Sat, 27 Dec 2008 02:44:48 +0000 http://2020science.wordpress.com/?p=245#comment-17 [...] biology for the technologically marginalized Last June I wrote a short piece on biohacking, prompted by a UK report on the social and ethical challenges of synthetic biology.  At the time, [...] [...] biology for the technologically marginalized Last June I wrote a short piece on biohacking, prompted by a UK report on the social and ethical challenges of synthetic biology.  At the time, [...]

]]> By: Andrew Maynard http://2020science.org/2008/06/13/8613-synthetic-biology-ethics-and-the-hacker-culture/#comment-15 Andrew Maynard Fri, 26 Dec 2008 00:04:14 +0000 http://2020science.wordpress.com/?p=245#comment-15 Thanks Daisy Hacker. The science and technology might still be beyond the reach of aspiring "biohackers," but the possibilities here are intriguing - and raise a lot of questions. Thanks Daisy Hacker. The science and technology might still be beyond the reach of aspiring “biohackers,” but the possibilities here are intriguing – and raise a lot of questions.

]]> By: Daisy hacker http://2020science.org/2008/06/13/8613-synthetic-biology-ethics-and-the-hacker-culture/#comment-16 Daisy hacker Thu, 25 Dec 2008 22:10:03 +0000 http://2020science.wordpress.com/?p=245#comment-16 I'm interested in the ethics of 'biohacking' If you are doing anything bigger then bactiria, it could be a potential ethical problem. However, that's the kind of tricky stuff that would be interesting to do. I really liked this artical, it gave a lot of great links, and some good info. I’m interested in the ethics of ‘biohacking’ If you are doing anything bigger then bactiria, it could be a potential ethical problem. However, that’s the kind of tricky stuff that would be interesting to do. I really liked this artical, it gave a lot of great links, and some good info.

]]> By: Saints or synners? « 2020 Science http://2020science.org/2008/06/13/8613-synthetic-biology-ethics-and-the-hacker-culture/#comment-18 Saints or synners? « 2020 Science Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:02:23 +0000 http://2020science.wordpress.com/?p=245#comment-18 [...] Synthetic biology, ethics and the hacker culture [...] [...] Synthetic biology, ethics and the hacker culture [...]

]]> By: Blogroll » Links for 2008-10-11 [del.icio.us] http://2020science.org/2008/06/13/8613-synthetic-biology-ethics-and-the-hacker-culture/#comment-14 Blogroll » Links for 2008-10-11 [del.icio.us] Sun, 12 Oct 2008 06:19:12 +0000 http://2020science.wordpress.com/?p=245#comment-14 [...] Synthetic biology, ethics and the hacker culture " 2020 Science [...] [...] Synthetic biology, ethics and the hacker culture " 2020 Science [...]

]]> By: Synthetic biology and the public: Time for a heart to heart? « 2020 Science http://2020science.org/2008/06/13/8613-synthetic-biology-ethics-and-the-hacker-culture/#comment-13 Synthetic biology and the public: Time for a heart to heart? « 2020 Science Sun, 05 Oct 2008 19:00:52 +0000 http://2020science.wordpress.com/?p=245#comment-13 [...] J. Craig Venter Institute is racing ahead towards creating the first artificial bacteria, and “biohackers” are learning how to re-engineer life at an increasingly rapid [...] [...] J. Craig Venter Institute is racing ahead towards creating the first artificial bacteria, and “biohackers” are learning how to re-engineer life at an increasingly rapid [...]

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