Synthetic biology : industrial and environmental applications

This is the only book to focus on industrial and environmental applications of synthetic biology, covering 17 of the most promising uses in the areas of biofuel, bioremediation and biomaterials. The contributions are written by experts from academia, non-profit organizations and industry, outlining not only the scientific basics but also the economic, environmental and ethical impact of the new technologies.
This makes it not only suitable as supplementary material for students but also the perfect companion for policy makers and funding agencies, if they are to make informed decisions about synthetic biology.
Largely coordinated by Markus Schmidt, a policy adviser, and the only European to testify in front of the bioethics commission of the Obama administration.

Author Notes

Markus Schmidt has an interdisciplinary background with an education in electronic and biomedical engineering, biology (MSc) and risk research (PhD). His research interests include risk assessment, the science-society interface, and technology assessment (TA) of novel bio-, nano- and converging technologies. Since 2005 he pioneered synthetic biology safety and ELSI (ethical, legal and social issues) research in Europe. See: www.markusschmidt.eu for details.

Markus SchmidtMarkus SchmidtMarkus Schmidt and Manuel Porcar and Vincent Schachter and Antoine Danchin and Ismail MahmutogluIsmail Mahmutoglu and Lei Pei and Manuel Porcar and Rachel Armstrong and Mark BedauLei Pei and Rachel Armstrong and Antoine Danchin and Manuel PorcarRachel Armstrong and Markus Schmidt and Mark BedauLei Pei and Shlomiya Bar-Yam and Jennifer Byers-Corbin and Rocco Casagrande and Florentine Eichler and Allen Lin and Martin Österreicher and Pernilla C. Regardh and Ralph D. Turlington and Kenneth A. Oye and Helge Torgersen and Zheng-Jun Cuan and Wei Wei and Markus Schmidt

List of Contributors	p. xi
Short CVs of Contributors	p. xiii
Preface	p. xvii
Acknowledgments	p. xix
Executive Summary	p. xxi
Biofuels	p. xxi
Bioremediation	p. xxii
Biomaterials	p. xxiv
Novel Developments in Synthetic Biology	p. xxv
Introduction	p. 7
What Are Synthetic Biology Applications?	p. 1
Which Synthetic Biology Applications Did We Consider?	p. 2
Selecting and Assessing Synthetic Biology Applications	p. 3
The Regulatory Context for Synthetic Biology	p. 4
References	p. 6
1 Biofuels	p. 7
1.1 Biofuels in General	p. 7
1.1.1 Introduction	p. 7
1.1.2 Economic Potential	p. 8
1.1.3 Environmental Impact	p. 13
1.1.3.1 Land Requirements for Projected Biofuel Use	p. 14
1.1.3.2 Other Environmental Concerns	p. 16
1.1.3.3 Impact of Legislative Decicions	p. 16
1.1.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspects	p. 17
1.1.4.1 How Could the New SB Application Impact Society at Large?	p. 18
1.2 Ethanol	p. 19
1.2.1 Introduction	p. 19
1.2.2 Economic Potential	p. 20
1.2.3 Environmental Impact	p. 21
1.2.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspects	p. 24
1.2.4.1 Could the Application Change Social Interactions?	p. 26
1.2.4.2 Producing Countries, Rich Countries?	p. 26
1.3 Non-ethanol Fuels	p. 27
1.3.1 Introduction	p. 27
1.3.2 Economic Potential	p. 31
1.3.3 Environmental Impact	p. 32
1.3.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspects	p. 33
1.3.4.1 Impact on Social Interaction	p. 34
1.4 Algae-based Fuels	p. 35
1.4.1 Introduction	p. 35
1.4.2 Economic Potential	p. 37
1.4.3 Environmental Impact	p. 41
1.4.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspects	p. 42
1.4.4.1 Could the Application Change Social Interactions?	p. 42
1.5 Hydrogen Production	p. 43
1.5.1 Introduction	p. 43
1.5.2 Economic Potential	p. 46
1.5.2.1 Cost Comparison with Gasoline for Transport Fuels	p. 46
1.5.3 Environmental Impact	p. 49
1.5.3.1 Environmental Concerns	p. 51
1.5.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspects	p. 51
1.5.4.1 Could the Application Change Social Interactions? If Yes, in Which Way?	p. 52
1.6 Microbial Fuel Cells and Bio-photovoltaics	p. 52
1.6.1 Introduction	p. 52
1.6.2 Economic Potential	p. 56
1.6.3 Environmental Impact	p. 56
1.6.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspects	p. 59
1.7 Recommendations for Biofaels	p. 59
References	p. 61
2 Bioremediation	p. 67
2.1 Bioremediation in General	p. 67
2.1.1 Introduction	p. 67
2.1.2 Economic Potential	p. 68
2.1.3 Environmental Impact	p. 69
2.1.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspects	p. 70
2.2 Detection of Environmental Pollutants (Biosensors)	p. 70
2.2.1 Introduction	p. 70
2.2.2 Economic Potential	p. 73
2.2.3 Environmental Impact	p. 74
2.2.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspects	p. 76
2.3 Water Treatment	p. 77
2.3.1 Introduction	p. 77
2.3.2 Economic Potential	p. 78
2.3.3 Environmental Impact	p. 78
2.3.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspects	p. 79
2.4 Water Desalination with Biomembranes	p. 79
2.4.1 Introduction	p. 79
2.4.2 Economic Potential	p. 80
2.4.3 Environmental Impact	p. 81
2.4.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspects	p. 81
2.5 Soil and Groundwater Decontamination	p. 82
2.5.1 Introduction	p. 82
2.5.2 Economic Potential	p. 83
2.5.3 Environmental Impact	p. 84
2.5.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspects	p. 85
2.6 Solid Waste Treatment	p. 85
2.6.1 Introduction	p. 85
2.6.2 Economic Potential	p. 87
2.6.3 Environmental Impact	p. 87
2.6.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspects	p. 87
2.7 CO 2 Recapturing	p. 89
2.7.1 Introduction	p. 89
2.7.2 Economic Potential	p. 92
2.7.2.1 How Is Carbon Traded?	p. 93
2.7.3 Environmental Impact	p. 95
2.7 A Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspects	p. 96
2.8 Recommendations for Bioremediation	p. 98
References	p. 99
Further Reading	p. 101
3 Biomaterials	p. 103
3.1 Biomaterials in General	p. 103
3.1.1 Introduction	p. 103
3.1.2 Economic Potential	p. 104
3.1.3 Environmental Impact	p. 106
3.1.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspects	p. 107
3.2 Biopolymers/Plastics	p. 108
3.2.1 Introduction	p. 108
3.2.2 Economic Potential	p. 111
3.2.3 Environmental Impact	p. 113
3.2.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspects	p. 115
3.3 Bulk Chemical Production	p. 117
3.3.1 Introduction	p. 117
3.3.2 Economic Potential	p. 120
3.3.3 Environmental Impact	p. 123
3.3.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspects	p. 124
3.4 Fine Chemical Production	p. 126
3.4.1 Introduction	p. 126
3.4.1.1 Vitamins and Pharmaceuticals	p. 128
3.4.2 Economic Potential	p. 129
3.4.3 Environmental Impact	p. 131
3.4.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspects	p. 133
3.5 Cellulosomes	p. 134
3.5.1 Introduction	p. 134
3.5.2 Economic Potential	p. 136
3.5.3 Environmental Impact	p. 137
3.5.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspects	p. 138
3.6 Recommendations for Biomaterials	p. 139
References	p. 140
Further Reading	p. 143
4 Other Developments in Synthetic Biology	p. 145
4.1 Protocells	p. 145
4.1.1 Introduction	p. 145
4.1.2 Economic Potential	p. 147
4.1.3 Environmental Impact	p. 147
4.1.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspects	p. 149
4.2 Xenobiology	p. 150
4.2.1 Introduction	p. 150
4.2.2 Economic Potential	p. 152
4.2.3 Environmental Impact	p. 152
4.2.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspect	p. 154
4.3 Recommendations for Protocells and Xenobiology	p. 154
References	p. 155
Further Reading	p. 156
5 Regulatory Frameworks for Synthetic Biology	p. 157
5.1 United States of America	p. 157
5.1.1 Introduction	p. 157
5.1.2 United States Federal Regulations and Guidelines	p. 158
5.1.2.1 National Institutes of Health: Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules	p. 158
5.1.2.2 Environmental Protection Agency, US Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration	p. 164
5.1.2.3 USDA Animal and Plant Heath Inspection Service	p. 167
5.1.2.4 Food and Drug Administration	p. 169
5.1.2.5 Department of Commerce Regulations	p. 170
5.1.2.6 Select Agent Rules	p. 172
5.1.2.7 Screening Guidance for Providers of Synthetic Double-Stranded DNA	p. 175
5.1.3 International Conventions and Agreements	p. 176
5.1.3.1 The Convention on Biological Diversity	p. 176
5.1.3.2 The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafery and the Nagoya-Kuala Lumpar Supplementary Protocol on Liability	p. 177
5.1.3.3 The Biological Weapons Convention	p. 178
5.1.3.4 The Australia Group Guidelines	p. 179
5.1.4 Conclusions: Current Coverage and Future Considerations	p. 181
5.1.4.1 Current Coverage	p. 181
5.1.4.2 Future Prospects	p. 183
5.2 Europe	p. 185
5.2.1 Introduction	p. 185
5.2.1.1 Synthetic Biology as a Novel Science and Engineering Field	p. 186
5.2.1.2 Synthetic Biology versus Genetic Engineering	p. 189
5.2.2 Existing Regulations	p. 190
5.2.2.1 European Union	p. 190
5.2.2.2 Examples of National Regulations	p. 195
5.2.2.3 Austria	p. 196
5.2.2.4 Germany	p. 198
5.2.2.5 United Kingdom	p. 201
5.2.2.6 Switzerland	p. 203
5.2.3 Options for Adapting and Improving Regulations	p. 205
5.2.4 Outlook	p. 209
5.3 China	p. 210
5.3.1 Introduction	p. 210
5.3.2 General Provisions	p. 211
5.3.3 Biosecurity and Dual Use	p. 217
5.3.4 Options for Adapting and Improving Regulations	p. 218
5.3.5 Outlook	p. 219
References	p. 220
Further Reading	p. 226
Annex A List of Biofuel Companies	p. 227
Annex B List of Bioremediation Companies	p. 229
Index	p. 237

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Author Notes

Table of Contents