April '08 | "Synthetic biology" poses new risks
ENTER SYNTHIA
Scientists have put forward an answer to the inevitable mutagenic effects of inserting man-made DNA into genomes (see DANGERS OF DNA TRANSFER ARE UNKNOWN – News, March 2008). A whole new field of science has emerged in the form of “synthetic biology”. This apparent contradiction in terms has been dubbed 'Synthia'. The Royal Society describes it as a departure from traditional biology which sought to find out how life works. 'Synthetic biologists' use engineering principles to design and construct complex biological systems. (COMMENT 'Biological engineers' might be a more appropriate description, but since 'genetic engineers' have acquired a bad name, this would probably be politically disadvantageous!)
The form of Synthia which could appear directly in your food is a mini-chromosome. This involves the construction of an artificial chromosome into which several artificial genes of choice can be lodged after which it is added into the chromosome complement of a crop plant.
Enter Craig Venter: in its most extreme form, Synthia becomes the creation of a whole, novel synthetic organism. The organism created is a microbe put together from the shell of a living cell into which a synthetic nucleus is inserted. The new nucleus contains a synthetic chromosome stripped down to the bare essential genes needed for basic life-processes. By adding industrial genes into this system, the microbes can become factories for producing essential materials.
The potential applications so far put forward for Synthia, and cited by the Royal Society, include a CHEAP anti-malarial drug, CHEAP, green hydrogen-fuel production, an ANSWER to environmental contamination, and gene therapy for MAJOR BENEFITS in treating cancer (Our emphasis of course: the potential problems of foreign bodies in the nucleus are not considered.)
OUR COMMENT
Synthia closely confined to a factory is not a problem: Synthia released into the environment, by carelessness or by design could be catastrophic. These organisms will have no capacity to attain a balanced existence in any natural environment, and their potential for evolving into new forms can only be weird. Keep an eye on how this commercial microbial Frankenstein is being used and regulated.)
Mini-chromosomes carrying a whole collection of engineered genes present a more immediate threat. The idea that 'isolating' them on a separate structure will avoid the problematic interactions found after DNA cassette insertion is simplistic. In the living cell, functioning chromosomes are diffuse material in intimate contact with each other: there is no shortage of opportunity for the foreign material to disrupt the healthy functioning of all other genes.
Mini-chromosomes will, of course, spread in pollen and spilled seed. If their stability is greater than transgenes. The problem of harmful genetic contamination will be magnified.
Regulators have a habit of swallowing industry platitudes, instead of using their common sense, and the Royal Society's overtly biased presentation of Synthia when asking for views from the public last year does not bode well. It looks like you will have to keep pointing out the dangers outlined above to regulators
SOURCES
- The Royal Society, Synthetic biology: Call for views, June 2007
- Ian Sample, First genome transplant turns one species into another, Guardian, 29.06.07
- Jon Van, Researchers make chromosomes to order, Tribune 19.10.07
- ETC Group Will Challenge Patents on “Synthia”, www.gmwatch.org archive=7986, 8.06.07
- Hope Shand, Jim Thomas, Kathy Jo Wetter, Playing God, The Ecologist, 1.05.07