SynBioWatch

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  • US navy veterans urge Congress to fund ‘critical’ green fleet programme

    NOTE: The question of green fuels for the military is an especially sticky one for progressives and environmentalists to wrestle with. As one synbio critic put it, “Do we stand with the Republicans, who think Venter-Exxon-type biofuel enterprises are a scam, or the Democrats, who want to make our military dollars go further, so we […]

  • Can DNA Be Downloaded?

    From GEN News Highlights : Jul 16, 2012 When government agencies were forced to confront an outbreak of the swine flu virus H1N1 in 2009, it took almost six months to have the vaccine ready. The next time that happens, vaccines could be ready in less than a week, J. Craig Venter, Ph.D., tells ForbesIndia. Under […]

  • J. Craig Venter Talks Life, Ego, Ambition — and Frankenstein

    By Catherine Mayer, from Time Magazine Nearly 70 years ago, the famed Austria-born physicist Erwin Schrödinger — he of the maybe-dead cat — delivered a lecture at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. The title of the talk, “What Is Life?” was as remarkable as the time and place it was delivered — at the fringes […]

  • New video on Biolab Health and Safety from Center for Responsible Genetics

    Lower level biological laboratories are proliferating across the world, regularly working with new biological materials, genetically engineered viruses, nanomaterials and other biological materials. The current regulatory framework governing laboratory safety largely excludes such hazards. As this research rapidly expands, a broader scrutiny of human and environmental health and safety issues is necessary to ensure necessary […]

  • Holy Genetically-Engineered Organisms Batman – Synthetic Biology Has A Banner Month!

    NOTE: As this article trumpets, there is no doubt that there is abundant growth in the field of artificial life. The question is whether this growth is benign, or malignant. — SynbiowatchBy Steve Kotler, cross-posted from Forbes It’s been a good month for synthetic biology. A few weeks ago, in a great talk(on the concept of “singularities”) given to […]

  • Synthetic Collaborations and Experimental Human Science

    This review of Dr. Paul Rabinow’s new book appeared on Biopolitical Times Synthetic Collaborations and Experimental Human Science, by Daniel Sharp Through what modes of engagement might the human sciences and the life sciences achieve a productive, collaborative relationship? The question might sound theoretical, but it isn’t- at least not necessarily. Answering it is an eminently […]

  • China’s and UK’s national engineering academies to collaborate on emerging technologies

    From: http://www.raeng.org.uk/news/releases/shownews.htm?NewsID=749 1st May 2012 — The Rt Hon David Willetts MP, Minister for Universities and Science, will attend the signing today (1 May) of a Memorandum of Understanding between the national engineering academies of the UK and China to collaborate on both technological and policy development on topics like advanced manufacturing, sustainable energy and emerging technologies […]

  • Developing countries face up to synthetic biology challenges

    By Yojana Sharma, from SciDevNet 27 April 2012 | EN — Debate about the governance of the emerging field of synthetic biology is likely to see disagreements among developing countries at ameeting of the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) in Montreal, Canada, next week (30 April–5 May). While some want tighter […]

  • In New U.S. “Bioeconomy”, Industry Trumps Environment

    By Carey L. Biron, Cross-posted from IPS A recent study found that “zero percent” of federal funding of synthetic biology was going into risk assessment. Credit:Horia Varlan/CC By 2.0 WASHINGTON, Apr 26, 2012 (IPS) – The White House on Thursday announced the formulation of the National Bioeconomy Blueprint, aimed at shoring up the U.S. commitment to bioscience-related research. […]

  • Oil Incumbents Building Empires to Dominate Biofuels and Other Alternative Fuels

    Large corporations such as Chevron and BP dominate partnership networks, which connect nearly 80% of the 753 firms active in alternative fuels, says Lux Research. BOSTON, Apr 17, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Over the past decade, hundreds of start-ups, corporations, financiers, and universities have developed compelling alternative fuel technologies, such as bio-based jet fuel and […]