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University of Calgary
Faculty of Law
PhytoMetaSyn and Synthetic Biology GE3LS Workshop
NATURE REDESIGNED
PhytoMetaSyn & Synthetic Biology
March 24 & 25, 2011
The first PhytoMetaSyn and Synthetic Biology GE3LS Workshop was held on March 24 & 25, 2011 in Banff, Canada at the Rimrock Resort Hotel. Attendance was by invitation only.
The objective of the PhytoMetaSyn project is to determine the metabolic pathways of selected plants by which the plants produce high value metabolites (such as drugs, flavours, fragrances, pesticides and industrial chemicals such as resins) and reproduce these pathways in the common yeast cell such that the yeast cells produce the same compounds.
The focus of the workshop will be on regulatory, ethical and social issues related to synthetic biology generally and the PhytoMetaSyn project in particular. The basic issue is whether synthetic biology and its products differ from previous technologies and products in an ethically, legally or socially relevant way? Does synthetic biology (especially the PhytoMetaSyn technology) create any fundamentally new ethical, legal and social issues? Are new regulations or ethical norms required to deal with synthetic biology generally and the PhytoMetaSyn products (novel yeast and its metabolites) in particular?
The central issues that will be discussed are the regulation of food and drugs produced from biosynthetic pathways, environmental issues, biosafety and biosecurity. Additional issues may include bioprospecting, access to medicine, governance, risk management, public engagement and philosophical implications. (Intellectual property and commercialization issues will not be covered as they will be the subject of a future GE3LS PhytoMetaSyn Workshop.)
Funded by Genome Canada.
PARTICIPANT PRESENTATIONS
Peter Facchini, Professor and Canada Research Chair in Plant Biotechnology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, "Synthetic Biosystems for the Production of High Value Plant Metabolites"
Vincent Martin, Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Microbial Genomics and Engineering, Department of Biology, Concordia University, "Synthetic Biosystems for the Production of High Value Plant Metabolites"
Graham Dutfield, Professor of International Governance, School of Law, Leeds University, "Is Synthetic Biology Different? Law, Regulations & the Languages of Science."
Andrew W. Torrance, Associate Professor and Docking Faculty Scholar, School of Law, University of Kansas, "Synthetic Biology: Regulation as Food, Drug, Cosmetic or Device."
David F. Clapin, Branch Science Advisor, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, "Priorities for Existing & Horizon Technologies: Initial Perspectives on Synthetic Biology."
Peter Andree, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Carleton University, "The Politics of GM Crops and Foods in Canada: Lessons for Synthetic Biology?"
Martin Phillipson, Professor and Associate Dean Research & Graduate Studies, School of Law, University of Saskatchewan
Peter Phillips, Professor, Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Saskatchewan, "Governance Quandries Related to Synthetic Biology."
Markus Schmidt, Co-founder, Centre for International Dialogue and Conflict Management (IDC), Synthetic Biology: Biosafety and Public Engagement: European Perspective.
Gerald L. Epstein, Director, Centre for Science, Technology & Security Policy, American Association for the Advancement of Science, "Synthetic Genomics, Plant Metabolic Engineer and Security: What's the Connection?"
Maureen O'Malley, Senior Research Fellow, Department of Philosophy & Sociology, University of Exeter and FutureFellow, Deparment of Philosophy, University of Sydney, "Engineering and Rational Design in Biology."
Rob Macdonald, Global Regulatory Manager, Bayer Crop Science, "Regulation of Products of Biotechnology in Canada."
Tyler Ivie, Canadian Legal Counsel, Bayer Crop Science
Edna Einsiedel, Professor, Department of Communications & Culture, University of Calgary
Tania Bubela, Assistant Professor, School of Public Health, University of Alberta
Gregory Hagen, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Calgary, "Regulation of NHPs from Biosynthetic Pathways"
Corrine Harris, Manager, Biosafety Standards & Guidelines, Office of Biosafety Programs and Planning, Pathogens Directorate, Public Health Agency of Canada
Dae-Kyun Ro, Assistant Professor, Canada Research Chair in Plant Bioproduct, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, "Synthetic Biology: Scientific, Methodological & Epistemological Issues."
Nancy Othmer, General Counsel, Health Canada, "Overview of Food & Drugs Act."
Michal C. Moore, Professor, School of Public Policy, Senior Fellow, Energy & Environmental Systems Group, Institute for Sustainable Energy, Environment and Economy, University of Calgary, "Some Ethical Risks of Environmental Policies."
STUDENTS AND FELLOWS
Nick Dragojlovic, Post Doctoral Fellow, Liu Institute for Global Issues, University ofBritish Columbia
Rebecca Moore, Institute for the History & Philosophy of Science, University of Toronto
Samuel Witherspoon, Faculty of Law, University of Calgary
Harley Fereirra, School of Public Health, University of Alberta
Ashok Kumbamu, School of Public Health, University of Alberta
Scott Farrow, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary
Guillaume Beaudoin, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary
OBSERVERS
Rose Geransar, Policy Intern, Alberta Agriculture And Rural Development, Policy Strategy and Intergovernmental Affairs Division, Policy Coordination and Research Branch, Government of Alberta
Jennifer Hill, Program Coordinator, iGEM, Alberta Innovates - Technology Futures, Government of Alberta
