Synthetic Biology and Biodiversity

Anthropogenic activities such as land usage, over-exploitation of natural resources, species introduction, climate change all have greatly impacted the Earth's ecosystem and biodiversity. Synthetic biology is advancing at a breakneck pace, with far-reaching ramifications for food security, agriculture, trade, health, etc affecting global biodiversity in numerous unknown ways. Depending on how they are built and targeted, synthetic biology applications have significant positive and negative consequences for biodiversity conservation. However, there is no consensus on the current state of synthetic biology and its implications for conservation, much alone the possibilities for future improvements. The potential advantages vary from the protection of vulnerable species to the development of synthetic substitutes for wildlife goods. Changes in the ecological functions of target organisms, as well as negative effects on the lives of indigenous and local populations who rely heavily on biodiversity, are examples of potential negative effects. There is an urgent need for authoritative action that may assist the conservation community, governments, and businesses in reaching an agreement on the hazards and potentially linked with synthetic biology and how they should be addressed. The application of synthetic biology must also be informed by case-by-case evaluations, guided by scientific facts, and decision-making must incorporate traditional knowledge, religious and ethical values.