Suchergebnisse

Die Synthetische Biologie ist ein neuer Forschungs- und Anwendungsbereich der Molekularbiologie, der Methoden und Verfahrensweisen mit der Gentechnik teilt. Im Unterschied zur Gentechnik, die einzelne Gene in bereits existierende Organismen einbringt, zielt die Synthetische Biologie darauf ab, neue organische Komponenten oder sogar Organismen zu erzeugen und technisch zu beherrschen. Das Forschungs- und Entwicklungsfeld der Synthetischen Biologie ist derzeit noch durch große Unschärfen bestimmt. Als weitgehend geteilte Grundlage kann jedoch eine neuartige Transdisziplinarität zwischen Biowissenschaften, Ingenieurwissenschaften und Bioinformatik ausgemacht werden, die das Ziel der Konstruktion künstlicher Systeme auf der Basis biologischer bzw. biochemischer Elemente verfolgt. Durch den formenden Eingriff in das Lebendige scheint sich eine neue Schnittstelle zwischen unbelebter und belebter Materie zu ergeben, die in den Produkten der Synthetischen Biologie vermeintlich klare Grenzen zwischen Natürlichem und Künstlichem aufweicht, eine weitere instrumentelle Sicht auf das Lebendige eröffnet und darüber hinaus die Stellung des Menschen als Akteur und Objekt der Synthetischen Biologie verändert. Der Sachstandsbericht strukturiert die Debatte zur Synthetischen Biologie aus naturwissenschaftlicher, rechtlicher sowie ethischer Perspektive. Allgemeine Innovations- und Gefährdungspotenziale der Synthetischen Biologie werden ebenso diskutiert wie spezifische kritische Anwendungskontexte, aber auch entsprechende Strategien und Regulierungen zur Risikominderung. Darüber hinaus werden naturphilosophische Einordnungen der Synthetischen Biologie sowie normative Diskurse über einen gesellschaftlich akzeptablen Umgang mit ihr reflektiert. ; Synthetic Biology is a new research and application area in molecular biology that shares methods and procedures with genetic engineering. In contrast to genetic engineering, which introduces individual genes into already existing organisms, Synthetic Biology aims to create new organic components or even organisms and to master them technically. The research and development field of Synthetic Biology is currently still characterized by great uncertainty. However, a novel transdisciplinarity between biosciences, engineering sciences and bioinformatics can be identified as a largely shared basis, which pursues the goal of constructing artificial systems based on biological or biochemical elements. Through the formative intervention in the living, a new interface between inanimate and animate matter seems to emerge, which in the products of Synthetic Biology blurs supposedly clear boundaries between the natural and the artificial, opens up a further instrumental view of the living, and beyond that changes the position of humans as actors and objects of Synthetic Biology. The progress report structures the debate on Synthetic Biology from a scientific, legal and ethical perspective. General innovation and risk potentials of Synthetic Biology are discussed as well as specific critical application contexts, but also corresponding strategies and regulations for risk reduction. In addition, natural-philosophical classifications of Synthetic Biology and normative discourses on how to deal with it in asocially acceptable way are reflected upon.

Engineered gene drives are an emerging technology for the large-scale genetic modification of natural populations of species. They are controversial due to high levels of uncertainty about their risks and benefits. We analyze gene drives in their social, natural, and technological contexts.
We discuss their depth of intervention and compare gene drives to "conventional" genetic modification techniques and to other novel high-impact technologies. While gene drives might overpromise and under-deliver solutions for problems of sustainable development, they also represent
a paradigm shift in human technological interference with nature, thus requiring broad discussion in society.

The project "Thematic Conferences on Advanced Materials" aimed at supporting the German Authorities in structuring the field of advanced materials and identifying work priorities related to chemical safety. In the first part of the project, information on advanced materials was gathered via an extensive literature review, an online expert survey and expert interviews. In a second part, three international conferences were organised, of which one was separated into two online events, to invite stakeholders in the field to reflect on the research outcomes and involve in a discussion about chemical safety of advanced materials. Overall, the project initiated discussions about advanced materials at global, EU and national level and promoted an active reflection on the potential safety challenges and sustainability, amongst others due to lack of data, methods and coverage of advanced materials in current regulation. The report provides an overview of the work process and summarises the main discussion issues at the conferences.

The project activities described in this report comprise a literature review, expert interviews, an online survey, desk research on relevance criteria and the organisation of the first of three thematic conferences that will take place in the context of this project. Based on the gathered information and experiences, advanced materials were clustered into different groups. Each group was characterised in form of factsheets. At the first conference, clustering approaches were discussed as well as the need to "define" advanced materials and aspects of including safety considerations into material design. A number of advanced material types were identified that could be of relevance with regard to chemical safety. This could, for example, be due to indications of hazards and risks that might require adequate risk management or due to insufficient regulatory coverage or missing risk assessment methods and tools. This report summarises the results of the project's first work package. It is discussion input to two further thematic conferences of the project as well as to discussions on approaches to cluster, describe and prioritize advanced materials in other contexts.

International audience ; This article reviews the current status of nanotechnology with emphasis on application and related environmental considerations as well as legislation. Application and analysis of nanomaterials in infrastructure (construction, building coatings, and water treatment) is discussed, and in particular nanomaterial release during the lifecycle of these applications. Moreover, possible grouping approaches with regard to ecotoxicological and toxicological properties, and the fate of nanomaterials in the environment are evaluated. In terms of potential exposure, the opportunities that arise from leveraging advances in several key areas, such as water treatment and construction are addressed. Additionally, this review describes challenges with regard to the European Commission's definition of 'nanomaterial'. The revised REACH information requirements, intended to enable a comprehensive risk assessment of nanomaterials, are outlined.

This article reviews the current status of nanotechnology with emphasis on application and related environmental considerations as well as legislation. Application and analysis of nanomaterials in infrastructure (construction, building coatings, and water treatment) is discussed, and in particular nanomaterial release during the lifecycle of these applications. Moreover, possible grouping approaches with regard to ecotoxicological and toxicological properties, and the fate of nanomaterials in the environment are evaluated. In terms of potential exposure, the opportunities that arise from leveraging advances in several key areas, such as water treatment and construction are addressed. Additionally, this review describes challenges with regard to the European Commission's definition of 'nanomaterial'. The revised REACH information requirements, intended to enable a comprehensive risk assessment of nanomaterials, are outlined.

This article reviews the current status of nanotechnology with emphasis on application and related environmental considerations as well as legislation. Application and analysis of nanomaterials in infrastructure (construction, building coatings, and water treatment) is discussed, and in particular nanomaterial release during the lifecycle of these applications. Moreover, possible grouping approaches with regard to ecotoxicological and toxicological properties, and the fate of nanomaterials in the environment are evaluated. In terms of potential exposure, the opportunities that arise from leveraging advances in several key areas, such as water treatment and construction are addressed. Additionally, this review describes challenges with regard to the European Commission's definition of 'nanomaterial'. The revised REACH information requirements, intended to enable a comprehensive risk assessment of nanomaterials, are outlined.