Browsing by Author "Abbott, Zack"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    1.2 Risk-benefit analysis worksheet for biotechnology beyond conventional containment
    (Rice University, 2025) Abbott, Zack; Flores, Alonso; Murray, Richard
    This report presents a structured risk-benefit analysis framework developed through discussions at the Spirit of Asilomar summit under the Biotechnologies Beyond Conventional Containment (BBCC) theme. As biotechnologies increasingly move beyond traditional laboratory and industrial confinement into open environmental applications, novel risks, ethical considerations, and societal implications arise. Recognizing the limitations of defining universal "safe design guidelines”, this report focuses instead on creating a practical, context-sensitive worksheet to guide scientists in early-stage project development. The worksheet prompts users to evaluate potential benefits—environmental, health, economic, and societal—against biological, ecological, health, regulatory, and security risks, while acknowledging the inevitability of residual risks. It encourages interdisciplinary consultation, highlighting the importance of engaging with experts and stakeholders to ensure responsible innovation. Serving as a preliminary self-assessment tool, the worksheet is designed to complement, not replace, formal regulatory processes. It aims to foster more thoughtful and transparent biotechnology design decisions and to evolve over time through broader community input.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    4.3 Synthetic Cells for Environmental Release
    (Rice University, 2025) Abbott, Zack; Adelman, Zach N.; Elani, Yuval; Freemont, Paul; Kiattisewee, Cholpisit Ice; Molla, Kutubuddin A.; Murray, Richard M.; Rudenko, Larisa
    This report summarizes discussions about the intersection of synthetic cells and beyond-containment biotechnologies, highlighting the need to differentiate between replicating/evolving and non-replicating/non-evolving synthetic cells due to their varying risk profiles and containment challenges. It emphasizes the potential of non-replicating synthetic cells as a safer, more controllable platform with minimized genetic instability and enhanced biosafety features, while still acknowledging the potential for DNA transfer to environmental organisms. The report calls for developing methods to characterize risks associated with synthetic cell deployment, establishing a classification framework based on potential harms, and fostering public trust through proactive engagement, transparency, and appropriate regulatory guidelines.