Ethics in synthetic biology : exacerbated misconceptions of the nature of man and cosmology

Abstract

Modern science has been the ‘spirit’ of Western Civilization, breaking the boundaries of cultural values and dominating the entire globe. From its genetic technologies and biomedical applications, emergent projects are now focusing on synthetic biology (SB). SB, the result of genetic engineering, is the combination of science and engineering, still in its infancy stage of development and has attracted many institutions and research labs. SB aims to re-design biological materials and develop minimal cells to serve as chassis. Three SB approaches are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)-based device production, genome-driven cell manufacture and proto-cell creation. Often claimed to offer potential benefits to humankind and the environment, the ethical concerns of SB are seldom studied, let alone being addressed. The ethical concerns can be categorized into two aspects: physical harms, which include biosafety and biosecurity issues; and non-physical desecration, which include misconceptions of human beings and nature, possible in affecting well-being of oneself and his community. As humans share the same nature, what is considered good and bad is universal. When nature is viewed to be self-subsistent, its study is void of real purpose. Thus, when one understands the humanness factor and what is nature will he observe ethics, leading to happiness.