‘Synbio’ as a Potential Tool to Preserve Biodiversity (UPSC Current Affairs)

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Why in the news?

According to a USA study, one-third of all animal and plant species on the earth may go extinct by 2070 as a result of climate change. In this context synthetic biology, sometimes known as "synbio," is viewed by environmentalists as a viable tool for preserving biodiversity and reestablishing the natural ecosystem.

What is Synbio?

• Synbio is the short form of Synthetic Biology.
• In 1980, Barbara Hobomin coined the phrase "synthetic biology" to characterise bacteria that had been genetically modified using recombinant DNA technology.
• The field of study known as "synthetic biology" focuses on the use of genetic sequencing, editing, and modification to produce artificial organisms or organic compounds that can interact with living systems.
• With the use of synthetic biology, researchers may create brand-new DNA sequences from scratch.
• The phrase was used to describe the creation of synthetic organic compounds that have a biological purpose.
• The phrase has also been used more generally in this sense to refer to initiatives to "redesign life."

What is the difference between Synbio and genome editing?

• Due to the fact that both synthetic biology and genome editing require altering an organism's genetic code, they are somewhat comparable. However, there is a difference between these two, based on how that change is implemented.
• In synthetic biology, large segments of DNA are often pieced together and inserted into the genome of an organism. Genes from other creatures or altogether novel genes may be contained in these manufactured DNA fragments.
• However, in genome editing, tools are often used to make more minor adjustments to the organism's DNA. Small regions of DNA in the genome can be added or deleted using methods for genome editing.

What are the applications of synbio in preserving biodiversity?

• Synthetic biology has potential in many domains, including the development of synthetic organisms for vaccination and the production of natural products in a lab.
• Vanillin, an organic substance produced from vanilla seeds, may now be grown in yeasts with additional plant genomes.
• In the pharmaceutical sector, synthetic biology can be used to produce natural substances like artemisinin, which is used to treat malaria, and Car T cell therapy, which is used to treat cancer.
• Synbio has application in areas like:
  • Standardized Biological Parts to build the new biological system.
  • Applied Protein Design- For example, genetically modified rice to produce beta-carotene, that prevents Vitamin A deficiency.
  • Natural Product Synthesis- For example Microorganisms harnessed for bioremediation (use of living microorganisms to degrade environmental contaminants into less toxic forms) to clean pollutants from water, soil and air.
• The synbio technique may be used for the production of biofuels, medicines, and food in a sustainable way.
• Utilizing synbio to absorb carbon dioxide from industrial emissions is an intriguing application.
• With the use of synbio technology, we could tackle some of society's most pressing issues, such as infectious disease, medicine development, and sustainability.
• It is guiding scientists toward the path of innovation by assisting them in finding the correct solutions more quickly and effectively.

What are the issues with the synbio?

Economic issues:

• It may cause an economic boom that shifts economies toward those reliant on biotechnology.
• Rural economies and low-income tropical nations will be impacted by this.
• Natural products are typically produced and harvested in developing nations; however, advances in synthetic biology may eventually replace this.

Environmental issues:

• The activity of species and their interaction with other organisms is uncertain when a new species is born or when a species is heavily modified.a

Social and ethical concerns:

• Whole genome synthesis projects present significant ethical issues about potential negative and positive effects on society.
• ‘Are humans transgressing moral bounds by redesigning organisms using synthetic biology techniques?” is one of the many ethical problems relating to synthetic biology that are similar to ethical discussions related to genome editing.
• Who in our society will have access to new medicines and cures for diseases if synthetic biology produces them?
• What effects does bringing modified species into the ecosystem have on the environment? Is also another ethical issue posed by synthetic biology.

Way Forward

• Leading figures in bioethics have stated that in order to effectively exploit the advantages of new synthetic biology and genome editing technologies, there is a need for increased public participation and discourse in their administration.
• India has not yet formally unveiled a national synthetic biology framework (both policy and regulatory). India's policy and regulatory framework must concentrate on comprehensively developing the field with the focus on the role of public and private stakeholders and addressing the concerns arising out of the synbio. .