The design and construction of new biological systems in the way engineers design electronic or mechanical systems is the primary goal of synthetic biology. The ability to create and modify life forms and easy access to information to do so has raised a number of issues related to ethics and security. In the era of rapid development of biotechnology, and the perception of the consequent risks to the environment and health, the ethics of knowledge becomes a matter of practical significance. The concern about the misuse of knowledge from synthetic biology influences new risk reduction strategies, which can have significant effects on scientific progress. This paper will provide an overview of the main bioethical and biosafety issues of synthetic biology.

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