Who owns organisms issued from synthetic biology?

This presentation focuses on synthetic organisms in the sense of the biological ‘parts' that are developed and the microorganisms in which they are combined in the field of synthetic biology. Starting from the basis of looking at approaches that can be taken to the ownership of genetic resources (the definition of which includes those of synthetic origin), it examines which of these approaches might be appropriate for synthetic organisms and whether the products of synthetic biology should be treated any differently from other genetic resources in this regard. Approaches that have been taken to ownership of genetic resources include: free access; common heritage; intellectual property rights; state sovereign rights; and the rights of farmers, local groups and indigenous peoples. Application of state sovereign rights and availability of intellectual property rights protection are the current dominant approaches (the latter being particularly controversial). The presentation will argue that these approaches are inappropriate on both practical and ethical grounds, and recommend a shift towards a (modified) common heritage approach to synthetic organisms (and genetic resources more generally).

Where applicable, experiments conform with Society ethical requirements