Synthetic Biology Analysed ― Tools for Discussion and Evaluation

This book focusses on characteristic features of synthetic biology that are relevant for the societal discussion. Some of these features apply only to parts of synthetic biology, where others might be relevant for synthetic biology as a whole. In the next step these new features are evaluated with respect to the different areas of synthetic biology. Do we have the right words and categories to talk about these new features? In a third step traditional concepts like “life” and “artificiality” are scrutinized with regard to their discriminatory power: We suggest some readjustments to do more justice to the heterogeneity of synthetic biology. In the last part this refined view for ethical evaluation, risk assessment, analysis of public perception and legal evaluation are utilized. This approach will help to differentiate the discussion on synthetic biology.