2015 thesis · Long-form review

Security in the New Era of Synthetic Biology

B.S. Cellular & Molecular Biology · University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. Full PDF below — read the summary on the left, then preview or download.

Synthetic Biology Biosecurity Policy & Ethics

Summary

Synthetic biology rapidly advanced genetic engineering, yet existing regulatory frameworks largely rely on inherited GMO legislation from the 90s and 00s that was never designed with synthetic biology’s unique capabilities in mind.

I examine the legal, security, and social issues created by that gap — dual-use research risks, biocontainment challenges, and the intellectual property landscape governing synthetically modified organisms. Paradoxically, at the time of writing (2015), the field’s own technical complexity and economic barriers act as natural constraints on misuse, while open-source platforms like BioBricks simultaneously accelerate innovation and raise biosecurity concerns.

The thesis concludes that synthetic biology’s most transformative potential lies in strengthening global food, energy, and health security — from engineering bacteriophages to combat antibiotic resistance, to producing next-generation biofuels.

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Security in the New Era of Synthetic Biology

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