Description

Synthetic biology is a new approach to biology, which aims at synthesizing and engineer components and biological systems to new or re-engineering existing biological elements in order to create systems performing useful functions.
This report, mostly made from literature analysis, aims at reporting progress in this area, not at the scientific level but in the context of a "business” approach.
The rapid development of synthetic biology creates a new market and induces a redistribution of the cards, in the fields of biotechnology, energy and petrochemicals. The market is characterized by two types of businesses that are Gene Foundries, which synthesize genes and genetic circuits on demand, and BioSynTechs, which develop microorganisms from these genes synthesized in order to produce biofuels, medicines or chemicals. These companies are the base of a broader economic tissue that integrates academic actors, such as universities and private industries such as food, pharmaceutical and petrochemical. This market has recently already developed traditional strategies of partnership and alliance, and vertical integration upstream and downstream.
Synthetic biology raises many questions about intellectual property: how can one promote investment in innovation? Different approaches are envisaged such as patent protection and copyright, but although tools such as "open source", each with advantages and disadvantages.
Like many emerging technologies, synthetic biology raises many issues relating to ethics: it is the first time that man is facing the possibility of creating new life forms. In addition, the evaluation of synthetic biology in terms of biosafety and biosecurity is essential. Indeed, synthetic biology can synthesize genomes of viruses and bacteria that can serve as a basis for developing biochemical weapons. But the main problem could be just bio-error and not bio-terror.
Taking into account all these factors appears necessary to ensure sustainable development of synthetic biology and allow major impact on the economy but also in our daily lives.