"Synthetic biology”

From our mystery man at “New Merck Reviewed:

http://anewmerckreviewed.wordpress.c...-report-today/


"Synthetic" Biology Approaches: Green-Lighted By Presidential Commission Report Today

Back in May 2010, Dr. Craig Venter (late of the Human Microbiome Project, see archived video, at bottom) was able to load a man-made strand of DNA into a single cell organism, and have that DNA run the as-modified organism. That proof of concept could conceivably lead to a far more widely-dispersed industry: micro-organisms regularly being "synthetically programmed" to express therapeutic agents….

This morning, a commission formed by President Obama has issued a very thoughtful, and balanced report (192 page, 4 Mb PDF file -- key section, imaged at right -- click it to enlarge) suggesting cautious adoption of the approach -- coupled with scientific self regulation. Quoting now: "the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Energy and other federal agencies should evaluate research proposals … through peer-review in order make sure that the most promising scientific research is conducted on the public’s behalf."