Individual Final Project

Strategies for an Ethical Biological Future To ensure that the Synergistic Bioremediation System contributes positively to the ecosystem and the community of Lago Budi, I have designed a three-tiered ethical strategy centered on Biosafety, Precision, and Sovereignty.

1. Strategy of Intrinsic Biocontainment (The “Kill-Switch”) Concept: We must prevent the “escape” of engineered genetic material into the wider lacustrine ecosystem.

Implementation: The engineered native consortia will act as a “living sensor” with a programmed lifespan.

Mechanism: I am designing a genetic kill-switch (e.g., a Toxin-Antitoxin module) linked to the specific salinity and pollutant signature of the discharge zone.

Ethical Outcome: If the bacteria drift away from the target area or if the pollution is remediated, the circuit triggers cell lysis. This ensures the engineered organism exists only as long as the problem exists, preventing permanent alteration of the biosphere.

2. Strategy of Ecological Orthogonality (The Phage Firewall) Concept: Traditional bioremediation often introduces invasive species that outcompete native flora. We aim for “orthogonality”—interacting without interfering.

Implementation: By using a specific Lytic Phage Cocktail, we target only the invasive human pathogens (E. coli, Salmonella).

Mechanism: The phages act as distinct “snipers” rather than “bombs” (like antibiotics). They ignore the beneficial native bacteria and the engineered remediators.

Ethical Outcome: This respects the existing biodiversity of Lago Budi. It allows us to remove the threat (pathogens) without destabilizing the complex food web of the lake.

3. Strategy of Distributed Vigilance (Community Feedback) Concept: Synthetic biology should not be a “black box” controlled solely by scientists. An ethical future requires epistemic sovereignty for the local community.

Implementation: The system is designed to be visible.

Mechanism: The genetic circuit includes a chromoprotein output (e.g., producing a purple or green pigment) when degradation is active.

Ethical Outcome: This allows the residents of Puerto Domínguez and the Mapuche communities to visually verify that the system is working. It shifts the power of monitoring from sporadic government labs to daily citizen observation, building trust through transparency.