Synthetic Biology

Synthetic Biology and Biological Diversity Conservation

Potential Positives and Negatives Impacts

Dr. Marina Rosales Benites de Franco

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

The conservation of biodiversity is one of three primary objectives of the CBD. The conservation of biological diversity occurs at all levels: genes, species and ecosystems. The second objective is sustainable use of components of biological diversity in a way and at a rate that does not lead to the long-term decline of biodiversity, thereby maintaining its potential to meet the needs and aspirations of present and future generations. The third objective is the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources.

Synthetic Biology (SB)

The synthetic biology is the application of science, technology and engineering to facilitate and accelerate the design and engineer (manufacture and or modification) biologically based parts or genetic materials, novel devices and systems in living organism to alter living or non living materials (European Commission 2014). It is also described as a “converging technology”. SB builds upon multiple fields, engineering, molecular biology, information technology, nanobiotechnology and system biology also named as systeomics. This technology is particular since it aims at the acceleration and facilitation of the process, for useful purposes.

The areas of research that are considered SB include DNA-based circuits, synthetic metabolic pathway engineering, synthetic genomics, protocell construction , and xenobiology . SB brings together and builds upon multiple fields, including engineering, molecular biology, information technology, nanobiotechnology, and systems biology (also known as systeomics)

SB frequently uses E. coli, baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and microalgae, to produce alternatives to naturally-occurring or petroleum-based molecules. There are examples as SB production of of artemisinic acid, an alternative to the naturally occurring anti-malarial drug artemisinin, which is derived from Artemisia plants; the production of fuels such as biodiesel and isobutanol using synthetic biology techniques; the production of pharmaceutical drugs for diabetes  and flavourings/fragrances as  vanillin;  protocell that fix carbon dioxide into inorganic carbonate (Armstrong et al. 2012); produce fuels such as biodiesel and isobutanol by engineering metabolic pathways in microbes and microalgae^[1];  Metabolix’s proprietary microbes use sugar to create biopolymers on a commercial scale (BIO 2013); Shikimic acid is being produced with synthetic biology tools , it is an anti-influenza drug Tamiflu, made from shikimic acid traditionally sourced from the star anise plant; DSM Sinochem producing the synthetic antibiotic cephalexin that they claim to be faster, cheaper, and less energy-intensive (Erickson et al. 2011);  a medicine for type II diabetes is produced by Merck using an enzyme modified by synthetic biology techniques by Codexis (BIO 2013); Agrivida, Inc produce  biomass feedstock with dormant biodegrading enzymes that are activated after harvest for biofuels; the production of squalene, an emollient used in high-end cosmetics and personal care products that has historically been sourced from the livers of deep sea sharks; convert agricultural waste materials (soybean hulls) into surfactants (use in cleaning applications); DuPont produces bio-based 1,3 propanediol by fermenting corn sugar with a “patented micro-organism” that converts glucose to propanediol.

Potential effects of SB

SB technology could aim to respond to challenges associated with bioenergy, environment, conservation wildlife, agriculture, health and chemical production, as bioremediation and pollution biosensors, produce artificial chemicals or drug that had been extracted from natural sources reducing the pressure on wild species by overharvesting or hunting and less environmentally harmful manufacturing processes; helps to identify and treat wildlife diseases; RNA-guided gene drives could potentially prevent the spread of disease, and control damaging invasive species; generates biofuels to decreased dependence on non-renewable energy sources; produces agricultural crops that are tolerant to abiotic stress and pests; reduces use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers and it has many other potential industrial uses.

However, SB could also have some negative impacts on biodiversity conservation synthetic microbes that could have adverse effects due to their potential for survival, persistence and transfer of genetic material to other micro-organisms. Potential undesired consequences could result from the use of “gene drive” systems to spread traits aimed at the suppression or extirpation of populations of disease vectors; introduction of new diseases; possible toxic and other negative effects on non-target organisms such as soil micro-organisms, beneficial insects, other animals and plants; transfer of genetic material to wild populations via vertical gene transfer and introgression; some methods of producing biodegradable plastics may have more environmental impacts such as the release of carcinogens and eutrophication than fossil-based polymers^[2]; displace products that are key to in-situ conservation projects and could have others negative effects on ecosystems and human health.  The restoring genetic diversity through reintroducing extinct alleles, or even “de-extinction” of species do not have their habitats to be viable and has negative effects on co-evolution and diseases; so it is more important to develop in situ conservation; genes from organisms developed through synthetic biology techniques could also transfer to unrelated species through horizontal or vertical gene transfer which may lead to a loss of genetic diversity and an unintended spread of phenotypic traits.

The global synthetic biology market was estimated to be $1.1 billion in 2010, and projected to be $10.8 billion by 2016. This market includes products for industry, health, agriculture crops and others economic activities.

Biosafety concerns

Unintentional or intentional release of organisms resulting from synthetic biology techniques to ecosystems outside of a contained laboratory or production facility could negatively impact on biodiversity. The organisms could become invasive and microbes have a particularly high potential for rapid evolutionary change. There is a big problem SB organism cannot be retrieved once released. Some experts said both physical and biological containment strategies are being explored as means to reduce the risks and potential negative impacts of organisms resulting from synthetic biology techniques.

It is necessary develop international agreement to regulate the effects of transboundary movement, transit, handling organism, parts or derivatives resulting from SB on biodiversity, ecosystems and genetic components of natural living organism. The living organisms and the living modified organisms resulting from current synthetic biology techniques are under regulation of Articles 8(g) and 19 of Convention on Biological Diversity, the Cartagena Protocol and the Nagoya – Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol. However, there are gaps where components and products resulting from synthetic biology techniques do not fall within the scope of treaty regimes, as components and products resulting from synthetic biology techniques that are not living modified organisms.

There is also question on synthetic biology also with regard to access and benefit-sharing, the material being accessed for use in synthetic biology could be considered “genetic resources” or “genetic material” and whether the components, organisms and products resulting from synthetic biology constitute “derivatives” as defined in the Nagoya Protocol. Who is the origin country of genetic material or its derivatives and what mechanisms and instruments should implement to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources? Should the intellectual property rights, resulting from synthetic biology products, benefit the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and its ecosystems?

References

Armstrong, Rachel, Markus Schmidt & Mark Bedau. 2012. Other Developments in Synthetic Biology. In Synthetic Biology: Industrial and Environmental Applications, edited by Markus Schmidt. Weinheim (Germany): Wiley-Blackwell, 145-156.

Biotechnology Industry Organization. 2013. Current Uses of Synthetic Biology for Renewable Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, and Biofuels. Available at: http://www.bio.org/sites/default/files/Synthetic-Biology-and-Everyday-Products-2012.pdf, accessed on 10 March 2015.

CBD. 2014. Possible gaps and overlaps with the applicable provisions of the Convention, its Protocols and other relevant agreements related to components, organisms and products resulting from synthetic biology techniques. 60 p. Retrieved from http://www.cbd.int/doc/meetings/cop/cop-12/information/cop-12-inf-12-en.pdf, accessed on 12 March 2015.

 

CBD. 2014. UNEP/CBD/COP/12/INF/11. Potential positive and negative impacts of components, organisms and products resulting from synthetic biology techniques on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, and associated social, economic and cultural considerations. 65 p. Retrieved from http://www.cbd.int/doc/meetings/cop/cop-12/information/cop-12-inf-11-en.pdf, , accessed on 12 March 2015.

Erickson, Brent, Rina Singh, and Paul Winters. 2011. Synthetic Biology: Regulating Industry Uses of New Biotechnologies. Science 333, 1254-1256.

European Commission. 2014. Preliminary Opinion on Synthetic Biology I: Definition. Available at http://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/emerging/docs/scenihr_o_044.pdf, accessed on 12 March 2015.

Köning , Harald, Daniel Frank, Reinhard Heil & Chistopher Coenen. 2013. Synthehtic Genomics and Synthehtic Biology applications between Hopes and Concerns. Current Genomics 14: 11-24.

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[1] DuPont Tate and Lyle BioProducts have been producing Bio-PDO™ (1,3-propanediol) since 2006, using corn as feedstock and proprietary microorganisms. The same company, in partnership with Genomatica, produced more than 2,000 metric tons of 1,4-butanediol (BDO) in 2012 using engineered E. coli.

[2] König et al. (2013)