Guiding Ethical Principles in Engineering Biology Research

Abstract

Engineering biology is being applied toward solving or mitigating some of the greatest challenges facing society. As with many other rapidly advancing technologies, the development of these powerful tools must be considered in the context of ethical uses for personal, societal, and/or environmental advancement. Researchers have a responsibility to consider the diverse outcomes that may result from the knowledge and innovation they contribute to the field. Together, we developed a Statement of Ethics in Engineering Biology Research to guide researchers as they incorporate the consideration of long-term ethical implications of their work into every phase of the research lifecycle. Herein, we present and contextualize this Statement of Ethics and its six guiding principles. Our goal is to facilitate ongoing reflection and collaboration among technical researchers, social scientists, policy makers, and other stakeholders to support best outcomes in engineering biology innovation and development.

Exploring standards for multicellular mammalian synthetic biology

“…To close, we highlight that the successful and responsible development of this new bioengineering wave will rely on an interdisciplinary landscape of standards, calling experts across diverse fields to come together and shape its future (Figure 1). Steps to address different facets of this scope are being made [80][81][82][83], and we encourage further cross-disciplinary discussions given the potential of synthetic biology to create disruptive tools that will radically advance our control over major biological and biomedical processes. We hope to motivate experts across the bioengineering community to come together at devoted symposia, identify strategic solutions to major limitations, and establish collaborative research teams aimed at improving bioengineering standards through dedicated funding (see Outstanding questions).…”

Artificial Intelligence Aided Lipase Production and Engineering for Enzymatic Performance Improvement

“…Members of the Engineering Biology Research Consortium (EBRC) have issued a Statement of Ethics in Engineering Biology Research, which summarizes six principles for the environment, social protection, the benefits and harms of research, the fairness and impartiality of educational research, the search for open early research, and the protection of individual rights. 169 In addition, some argue that data in bioengineering need to be treated as a customer, focusing on its uniqueness. 170 For the development and progress of society, it is necessary to articulate the principles and values that guide the field of bioengineering in making the greatest positive contribution to humanity and the environment.…”

Regulation and management of the biosecurity for synthetic biology

“…In 2021, the Engineering Biology Research Consortium (EBRC) issued a Statement of Ethics in Engineering Biology Research, in which six principles were asserted for engineering biology research. Among these six principles, the second principle asserts that researchers should weigh the benefits of research projects and their applications against potential harms as technical research advances have the potential to unintentionally cause harm or create the capacity to cause harm to people or the environment, which indicates the serious attention to biosecurity issues to engineering biology research [ 53 ]. Moreover, genome editing technology is one of the most important technologies of synthetic biology.…”