What happens when biology becomes technology?
All of us agree that Mathematics
is the queen of all sciences; Physics and Chemistry respectively come nextin
the hierarchy next.Biology is considered the poor last.
I became a student of Biology not by option,
but out of compulsion.I was poor in maths. Naturally, I couldn’t opt for
Chemistry,aboutthe which I was very passionate.But once I started my Masters in
Genetics, my reservations about itsimply vanished.Today Biology and Genetics
are involved in unravelling the mysteries of life.
Although I left the
field long ago, I have kept in touch with the latest developments in Biology,
especially Genetics. Today I am proud to be living in a world where biology
itself is being subsumedin technology, and,synthetic biology is creating
amazing new forms, hitherto unknown to us.
Historical
It was more than a century
ago that Gregor John Mendel, an Austrian monk, discovered the genetic basis of
heredity through his carefully conducted experiments on garden peas grown in
the garden of his monastery.Later on,Friedrich
Miescher, a German scientist, identified nuclein(later known as DNA
or Deoxy Ribo Nucleic Acid)as the chemical responsible for inheritance.With Watson
and Crick proposing a double helical model for DNA molecule, the gene revolution
had begun.
The first two phases of the
gene revolution comprised gene sequencing and gene editing.The third phase of
the genomic revolution involves synthetic biology.
What is Synthetic Biology?
Synthetic
biology is a nascent but fast-growing fieldwhich
encompasses the creation of new genomes and the manipulation of genes to
manufacture a wide range of products, from fertilizers to cosmetics to
medicine.
Application of synthetic biology
Synthetic biology impacts on how we grow foodand what we eat. Products created through synthetic biology are rapidly entering the
food markets and by 2030 “It is highly likely that you will have eaten, worn,
used or been treated with one----This new
technology is poised to make a profound impact on the way a vast array of
products manufactured, from lab-grown meat to cosmetics to biodegradable
packaging’. Synthetic
genomics is now making a huge impact on personalized medicine, life sciences
and chemical industries.It is in wide use to construct viruses,
bacteria, eukaryotic cells with synthetic genomes.
The
next decade will see more products that derive their superior performance and
affordability from engineered biology.
Some Examples
·
The
yeast Pichia pastoris was engineered to produce soy leghemoglobin,
which improves meaty flavours and aromas when added to a plant-based burger
·
Compared
to a beef patty, the Impossible Burger (brand name) requires 96% less
land and 89% fewer greenhouse gases. Worldwide, their products are available in
over 30,000 restaurants and 15,000 grocery stores. It offers consumers a new generation of plant-based
proteins that look, act, and taste far more like the real thing than ever
before.
·
The palate of
food additives that are obtained from engineered yeast is growing rapidly, with
products emerging that contain Vitamin E (DSM), Stevia (Amyris and DSM) and
milk whey (Perfect Day).
What is different? In
synthetic biology, the concepts in biology and engineering are combined. Synthetic genomics, unlike genetic modification, does not use naturally
occurring genes in its life forms, but makes use of custom designed base pair series. Scientists are
now able to construct long base pair chains
cheaply and accurately on a large scale. They perform experiments on genomes that
do not exist in nature.
Advantages
Synthetic biology
can improve traditional food production and manufacturing, food nutrition
or add new features. Further, it can transform the traditional fermented food
production.By synthesising food, we may be able to considerably reduce the
negative impact of clearing forests or using fertilizers for agricultural
purposes.Moreover, an array of eco-friendly products of daily use could reduce negative
environmental impact.
Consumer response
The Guardian newspaper points out that ‘the technology has
rapidly outstripped consumer interest”. However, according to a Pew Research Centre poll, only two out of 10 Americans are willing to give lab
meat a go.” This attitude may change in
future, once more and more synthetic biology products enter the market that
appeal to popular tastes.
Impact
Synthetic biology is transforming the world economy. ‘Factors that favour the market’s growth include a wide
range of popular productsarising out of synthetic biology, increased R&D
funding, the declining costs of DNA sequencing and synthesis, and the
increasing investments in market promotion. However, experts point out that
biosafety, biosecurity, and ethical concerns related to synthetic biology could
slow growth.But at the same time, lessons
learned from Covid-19 vaccines could advance synthetic biology.
Ethical
concerns
Like any fast-emerging technology,
synthetic biology too poses certain ethical concerns that need to be
addressed. These concerns relate to the impact of synthetic biology on
biodiversity, ecosystems, or food and energy supplies, and the balance between
humans and nature.The ethical implications of this technology need to be considered
carefully. The technology needs to be applied in a responsible and sustainable
manner.
The Presidential Commission for
the Study of Bioethical Issues released its first report, namelyNew
Directions: The Ethics of Synthetic Biology and Emerging Technologies, in 2010. The report concluded that the field of synthetic biology does not
require new regulation, oversight bodies, or a moratorium on advancing research
at this time.
It, however, released general guidelines regarding the use of this technology.
Future
McKinsey estimated in a May 2020 report that as
much as 60% of the global economy’s physical inputs could be made using
synthetic biology, resulting in direct economic benefits of at least US$1.7
trillion between 2030 and 2040. The World Economic Forum points out that
biological innovations have the potential to address 45% of the current disease
burden of the world, and to produce 60% of our physical inputs into the global
economy in the next 10-20 years.
Significance
Synthetic biology is a rapidly evolving field that
has the potential to revolutionize the way we live
and work. When biology becomes technology,
‘itbreaks down the boundaries between science, society, nature and technology
that can lead us to imagine different possible futures’. The new technologies help in the advancement
of knowledge and understanding, while creating useful practical applications.No wonderSteve Jobforesaw some time ago--“I think the biggest innovations of the 21st century will be at the
intersection of biologyand technology. A new era is beginning.”
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