Homework

Week 1 HW: Principles and Practices
First, describe a biological engineering application or tool you want to develop and why. I have always liked mutated plants with interesting patterns, like variegated monsteras, and wonder if we’ll be able to use synthetic biology to genetically design them to look a specific way. Could we figure out how to mutate a monstera’s genes so its leaves have different colours or shapes? Next, describe one or more governance/policy goals related to ensuring that this application or tool contributes to an “ethical” future, like ensuring non-malfeasance (preventing harm). Break big goals down into two or more specific sub-goals. It’s difficult to predict what impacts genetically modified plants might have on the ecosystem, however. What if it’s toxic to pollinators or other wildlife? To prevent ecological harm, they should be grown in contained areas and monitored to see how they affect their local environment before they can be sold as houseplants. Researchers should examine whether these genetically modified genes could could spread to other plants via cross breeding, and whether it could reduce the genetic diversity of natural species.