Wezzie Mbale — HTGAA Spring 2026
Homework
- Describe a biological engineering application or tool you want to develop and why. The oximeter, used to detect oxygen saturation, has known disparities accross different skin tones, due to the melanins ability to absorb near infered light (NIR) (Clarice). These disparaiteis result in patients or darker skin tone showing higher oxigen saturation and appearing healthier than they are. This resulted in black and hispanic patients recived delayed treated for COVID 19, due to systematic overestmation of oxygen saturation (Fawzy et al.) Genetic circuits in a synthetic biological application, that engineers DNA, RNA and protiens to programmable; functions such as biosensors that can be programmed to react to enviromental factors. I want to use this biological engineering application to engineer genetic circuits to sense a CO2 or O2 saturations in the epidermis. Using a biosensor that does not depend on NIR will increase the accuracy of oxygen readings and result in more equitable care 2. Describe one or more governance/policy goals related to ensuring that this application or tool contributes to an “ethical” future Loosly refering the TAPIC framework from the World Health Organisation, focusing on transparency, acccountability, participation, intergrity and Capacity. The below are three goals that are built on the TAPIC framework(“TAPIC”). 1. Reduce Physical and Ecological Harm Governance should ensure that engineered organisms using genetic circuits are designed with robust biosafety and biosecurity features such as kill switches that trigger cell death in inappropriate environments, or activation only under specific conditions such as defined temperature or oxygen saturation. In addition, long‑term post‑deployment monitoring of surrounding environments and exposed people, coupled with clear procedures for recalls and adverse event reporting, should be required so that emerging harms can be detected and mitigated early.
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