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This is what the talk will be about:
- What is the science behind synthetic biology? What is genome editing, CRISPR/cas, RNAi or off-target effects etc.?
- And how does generative AI and generative biology come into play? What is actually happening in laboratories and corporate R&D around the world, including in the USA and China? I will report on AI platforms that generate designs for novel viruses and proteins to experiments ranging from medical drug development and attempts to bring extinct species back to life. I will also present current scenarios in the field of bioweapons.
- How big tech is moving to get into bioeconomy – Titans such as Google, Microsoft, Nvidia, Alibaba, Meta, Amazon and Salesforce, with no specific experience in life sciences, are now the leaders in a new ‘generative biology’ run.
- I will then continue with our own research on risk and technology assessment of genetically modified organisms and synthetic biology. This includes experiments and method development on biosafety, but also poses more fundamental questions such as investigating if the AI/biodigital design of nature is in line with nature conservation concepts or asking if democratization of biotech research (garage biology) relates to “dual use” risks. We also work on instruments to better understand impacts on society and improved social participation.
- Finally, I would like to report on the very controversy negotiations on this topic at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in Colombia in November – among parties, with perspectives from developing countries, indigenous peoples and local communities, scientist and others and discuss ways forward for fair, multidisciplinary assessment and oversight that is urgently needed.