The Ethics of Synthetic Biology

Abstract

On May 28, 2008 President José Manuel Barroso asked the EGE to issue an Opinion on the ethical, legal and social implications that may derive from synthetic biology. In his letter, the President advocated that ‘(…) the debate about the legitimacy of engineering new life forms has mainly focused on safety issues and a work on the ethical, legal and social implications that may derive from this specific use of biotechnology is still missing.’ The EGE is aware that synthetic biology raises philo- sophical, anthropological, ethical, legal, social and sci- entific issues. It is equally aware that the convergence of multiple technologies in synthetic biology, each based on different scientific paradigms, increases the com- plexity of assessing the ethics of synthetic biology and its products. The EGE has, however, agreed that, apart from safety issues associated with synthetic biology, an ethical, legal, and political governance of synthetic biology is needed in the EU and worldwide to ensure that the interests of society are respected. The Group has therefore accepted President Barroso’s request. 1.