India Needs A Policy On Synthetic Biology

This technology, of developing new life forms, is being pursued by industry despite there being no regulatory framework in place

- Balakrishna Pisupati

The prospect that we would no longer need to slaughter animals for meat — it can be grown in labs using plants — seems an exciting green and low carbon footprint route. Burger King is testing this out with its Impossible Whopper in St Luis, US. And, we will not need the vanilla plant to make vanillin nor silkworms to produce silk. We will no longer need a life form to create another life. De novo synthesis of life is now possible.

We can not only create fully synthetic life but also edit the genetic composition of available life. This editing can now be done by students and amateurs with readymade kits in their homes and garages.

The power of emerging science is now in the hands of both scientists and the general public. Not just that, we are already making synthetic DNA based on demand. We can synthesize entire chromosomes for an order now.

Will society lead science?

India established the Department of Biotechnology during the late 1980s to harness the emerging science to the benefit of the country. However, there has been a longstanding lack of clarity and consensus among scientists, policymakers, industry, farmers and civil society organizations on how India needs to deal with genetic modification technology in areas like agriculture.

This is a cause of serious concern after decades of work in this area compromising research, investments, and decision-making.

With the Department of Biotechnology and Ministry of Agriculture supporting promotion of this science and technology, and the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change dealing with approval for commercialization of such new technology, India offers a classical example of how science-policy interface should or should not work.