Updated ZKBS report on synthetic biology

The Central Commission for Biological Safety (ZKBS) has been monitoring the Synthetic biology to monitor current scientific developments in an expert and critical manner and to evaluate them with regard to biological safety. In 2012 and 2018, the ZKBS has already Interim reports were published. While the first report primarily presented and evaluated relevant national research activities, the second interim report examined scientific developments worldwide. The now published 3rd ZKBS report from July 2022 presents the current developments in the various research areas based on selected publications (see also here ) and evaluates them with regard to a potential threat to biological safety. The report also assesses whether the relevant research developments are covered by the Genetic Engineering Act (GenTG) or the European Genetic Directives. Chapter 2 of the report refers to the various research developments, such as the production of Minimal cells or the Xenobiology Under section 2.6 "Methods with an impact on synthetic biology," specific research developments and modern methods are listed. These include, among others, in silico methods that are not subject to the GenTG, but can be used in conjunction with the generation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) within the framework of synthetic biology. One example of this is the use of Synthetic Biology Open Language (SBOL) to make unorganized datasets from the field of synthetic biology more accessible.

The 3rd ZKBS report on synthetic biology can here can be retrieved.