687: Amy Webb | Changing Lives with Synthetic Biology

Dual-Use Risk

The dual-use dilemma in synthetic biology presents a significant risk, as technologies designed for beneficial purposes can also be misused. Jordan Harbinger highlights the potential dangers of DNA printers in educational labs, where someone could accidentally or intentionally create a deadly virus 1. Amy Webb emphasizes that while many technologies can be misused, the self-sustaining nature of biological systems makes them particularly concerning 1. She recalls a project funded by DARPA where researchers successfully recreated smallpox using off-the-shelf materials, underscoring the need for stringent controls 1.

Biology tends to be self-sustaining. There's usually not an off switch.

--- Amy Webb

The potential for misuse extends to making viruses more virulent, as demonstrated by a European researcher who mutated H5N1 to be airborne and transmissible between humans 1.

   

Privacy Issues

Privacy concerns surrounding genetic information are growing as DNA sequencing becomes more accessible. Amy Webb discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic has desensitized people to the risks of sharing their genetic data, often without understanding where it goes or how it's stored 2. She warns that companies could monetize genetic data without individuals receiving any benefits, raising ethical questions 3. Jordan Harbinger notes that China holds the most genetic data globally, followed by companies like 23andMe and Ancestry.com, which have been acquired for their valuable data stores 3.

We're all becoming desensitized to being skeptical.

--- Amy Webb

The potential for breaches and misuse of genetic data, such as biological doxing, adds another layer of risk that needs to be addressed 3.

   

Ethical Concerns

The ethical implications of new reproductive technologies are vast, particularly concerning genetic optionality. Amy Webb explains that advancements in stem cell technology could allow individuals to create embryos using their own genetic material, eliminating the need for a partner's genetic contribution 4. This could lead to the possibility of multiple-parent children, fundamentally changing our concept of family 4. Jordan Harbinger and Amy discuss the potential for these technologies to be misused, particularly in secretive military applications 4.

It's just different. It's different than how we think of family today.

--- Amy Webb

The conversation also touches on the risks of cyber bio malware, where vulnerabilities in the synthetic biology process could be exploited to create harmful biological agents 4.