Dr. Nathan Hillson, Director of Synthetic Biology Informatics at Joint BioEnergy Institute based in the USA participates in Risk Roundup to discuss BioEconomy – Promise and Perils of Synthetic Biology.
BioEconomy – Promise and Perils of Synthetic Biology
Today, we humans are no longer confined to what nature must offer. The advances in science and technology have given us the capability to create “living things”. While what nature has given is still the foundation to our natural biological ecosystem, we, the humans are now capable to build on this foundation and create a man-made, synthetic bio-ecosystem of our desire and definition.
We have reached a point where tools and technology to define and design entire human and non-human genomes have caught up to our ability to construct them. As a result, in the coming years, we will be able to define, design, and construct any cell, organism, or any biological species we want—with a growing selection of genome from human, non-human, and or any other living species.
The time is almost here, where the ability to create or manipulate “life” seems restricted only by our imagination as, we will now be able to build any cell, organism, or biological species up from scratch.
As a result, the “industrial age” is slowly but steadily drawing to a close to being gradually replaced by an era of biological engineering–and bio-economy. As we transition from an economy that relied on “machines” to the one that relies on biology, for a biological future that can be engineered the way we want, it is important to understand and evaluate whether we have enough knowledge to prevent the security risks that come with the advances in Synthetic Biology, on which the BioEconomy is being built.
Time is now to talk about BioEconomy – Promise and Perils of Synthetic Biology!
For more please watch the Risk Roundup Webcast or hear the Risk Roundup Podcast
About the Guest
Dr. Nathan Hillson is the Director of Synthetic Biology Informatics at Joint BioEnergy Institute based in California, USA. He is also the Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of TeselaGen Biotechnology.
He leads the Synthetic Biology Informatics initiative of the Joint Genomic Institute and is the Principal Investigator at Agile BioFoundry. He is the Department Head of Biodesign at Berkley Lab and has authored many publications.
About Risk Group
Risk Group is a leading strategic security risk research and reporting organization.
Copyright Risk Group LLC. All Rights Reserved
Reference Episodes
Future of Work – Battle between Human Work Force and Machine Work Force
Technology Trends and Future of Humanity
Technology Trends and Humanification
Dual Use Technology Dilemma and National Security Risks
Electronic Warfare Preparedness
Future of Technology
Digital Future – Complex Challenges of Change
Electronic Warfare-An Existential Risk
Electromagnetic Warfare
What Role Gene Environment Plays In Gene Expression And Human Health Security
Fourth Industrial Revolution and Security
Machine Learning Bias – An Existential Risk
Risks and Rewards of Genomic Medicine
Competitive Intelligence and Risk Management
Strategic Intelligence
Disruptive Innovation and Security Risks
Diagnostic Genomics and Security Risks
NanoSatellites & Democratization of Space
Healthcare in Turmoil
Space Mining
Space Security
Impact Investing
Societal Impact of Robotics
Complex Security Risks of Mediterranean Region
Are Education Institutions Prepared for Digital Disruption
Digital Disruption in Marketing
The Middle East Geopolitical Puzzle and Risks to Global Security
Impact of Cyber-Security Risks Global Business
The Digital Global Age – Contested Commons
Strategizing Digital Transformation
Strategizing Cyber-Security
Energy Warfare
Impact Investing 