如何应对合成生物学的不确定性——《合成生物学的监管:生物砖,生物朋克与生物企业》评介

How to Compromise the Uncertainty of Synthetic Biology?A Review of Regulation of Synthetic Biology: BioBricks,Biopunks and Bioentrepreneurs

合成生物学领域的快速发展加之风险和受益的不确定性为其监管带来了复杂的挑战。艾莉森·麦克伦南博士撰写的《合成生物学的监管:生物砖,生物朋克与生物企业》一书批判性地研究了合成生物学的关键驱动因素及其潜在影响。围绕监管环境的五项评估标准,即合法性、有效性、审慎、密切联系与世界主义,作者对合成生物学的风险监管与受益监管进行了细致的分析与讨论,探索如何利用监管促进合成生物学有益创新的同时也能规避其风险。这一工作对进一步深入探讨合成生物学的伦理、法律和监管问题具有重要意义。

The rapid development of synthetic biology as well as its uncertainty of risks and benefits brings the complex challenges to the regulation. The book: Regulation of Synthetic Biology: BioBricks,Biopunks and Bioentrepreneurs written by Dr. Alison·Mclennan critically studied the key driving factors and potential impacts of synthetic biology. Regarding to the five evaluation standards on the regulatory environment, legitimacy, effectiveness, prudence, connection and cosmopolitanism, the author presented a detailed analysis and discussion on the risk regulation and benefit regulation of synthetic biology. Furthermore, the author explored how to promote beneficial innovation in synthetic biology while avoiding the risks at the same time. This work has great significances for the further investigation on the ethics, law and regulation issues of synthetic biology.