Following The Ecologist's revelation about Ecover's use of synthetic biology to make laundry detergent, the company has put its trials on hold, writes Jim Thomas. But to regain public trust, the company must re-engage honestly with its critics, and its customers.
… Synthetic biology - Ecover must come clean Jim Thomas | … revelation about Ecover's use of synthetic biology to make laundry detergent, the company … using an algae oil produced using synthetic biology (Syn Bio), sometimes called 'extreme …
Advocates claim that synthetic biology and the so-called New Breeding Techniques (NBTs) are distinct from genetic engineering (GE), write Helena Paul, Elisabeth Bücking & Ricarda Steinbrecher. In fact synthetic biology and NBTs carry similar risks to old-style GE, and even create novel hazards. The 'new GE' techniques - as they should be named - and their products deserve regulation at least as strict as those applying to GMOs.
… 'New Breeding Techniques' and synthetic biology - genetic engineering by another name … Advocates claim that synthetic biology and the so-called New Breeding … & Ricarda Steinbrecher. In fact synthetic biology and NBTs carry similar risks to …
The biofuels of the future will depend on microbes, writes Almuth Ernsting: algae to produce the biomass, and fungi or bacteria to break cellulose down into useful molecules. Just one problem: wild strains aren't up to the job. So scientists are trying to genetically engineer supercharged 'synthetic biology' variants - which will inevitably enter the environment. What could possibly go wrong?
… genetically engineer supercharged 'synthetic biology' variants - which will inevitably … such as Abengoa and BP, and synthetic biology companies such as Amyris, Solazyme, … aren't up to the job. E nter synthetic biology Cellulosic biofuels thus rely on …
From computer games to biohacking, digital designers are ditching music and video in favour of remastering a more exciting medium...
… thin. Thanks to the new tools of synthetic biology, Spore fans wanting to dabble in a … call this DIY genetic engineering ‘garage biology’ or ‘biohacking’. In Boston and San …
Following allegations of defying India's Biological Diversity Act (BDA), Monsanto faces a lawsuit from the Indian government, reports Rosie Spinks
How India squared up to Monsanto’s 'biopiracy' Rosie Spinks | 12th October 2011 News News Focus Food And Farming Monsanto GMOs Biopiracy India bt_brinjal_monsanto.jpg Following allegations of defying …
The message from Cruelty Free International to Musk is simple: ditch the animal tests and embrace non-animal methods if you want the Neuralink device to help human patients.
… animal tests and embrace non-animal methods. Biology Increasing evidence points towards … are still fundamental differences between the biology of humans and other animals that erode … already used widely to understand human brain biology and disease and test the effectiveness …
The health of our soils is more important now than ever, says the Soil Association’s Helen Browning - especially with the challenges that climate change will bring ...
… and physics of soils than we were about the biology, and given scientists have recently … chemicals and fertilisers affect soil biology. All farmers need to know whether and …
Household sewage waste rather than farm slurry should be the target of tough pollution measures to reduce phosphorus levels in English rivers, says study
… growing periods. 'The critical time for biology is during the growing period when … but this is not the critical period for biology and in many cases the phosphorus in … the complex relationships between hydrology, biology, chemistry and habitat, as well as our …
The issues surrounding powerful new technologies from GMOs to nuclear power appear disparate, writes David King - but look harder and most are linked by common threads. Key among them are issues of profit, control and socialisation of cost ...
… Technology Society Corporations synthetic-biology.png The issues surrounding powerful … old technofixes: geoengineering , synthetic biology , nuclear power and the so-called … still at work in geoengineering and synthetic biology, as scientists attempt to manipulate …
Somebody somewhere has to have a cunning plan to fix our environmental problems and save the world – right? Jim Thomas sorts through the big tech ideas you’ll be reading about this year
… terminator (sterility) technology. Synthetic biology Every few years a technology platform … process of reinventing itself as synthetic biology – an extreme form of genetic … scratch. With more than a dozen synthetic biology companies aiming to put products on …
Deep in rural Sussex at Wakehurst Place, in a large nature reserve of 500 acres of National Trust woodlands and lakes, stands the Kew Gardens Biological Research Centre. Sixty feet beneath is a nuclear bunker. This is the British National Doomsday vault, home to the UK’s Millennium Seed Bank (MSB). If apocalyptic disaster strikes, this bunker will hold key bio-scientists and all remaining plant life.
Banking on food Dan Marcus | 1st November 2007 News Food Bank UK The Millenium Seed Bank Conservationism Conservation Diversity Food Security Conservation Food And Farming Society investigates.jpg …
The European Commission has just cleared Monsanto's GM maize for use in the EU. Yet, as Jeffrey M Smith reveals, proper analysis of tests done to gain that approval suggest it should never have been given
Cause For Concern Jeffrey M Smith | 17th February 2009 Comment Gm Maize GM Testing Gm Products EU Food And Farming Health Archive_183.jpg The European Commission has just cleared Monsanto's GM maize …
Will food regulations be thrown on the Brexit bonfire?
Genetically modified crops Natalie Bennett | 4th February 2020 News GMOs Food And Farming Brexit Thought Leaders farming-climate-change-3449647_1280.jpg Will food regulations be thrown on the Brexit …
Weeds are destroying crops globally - but the real problem is Big Agriculture.
You reap what you sow Natalie Bennett | 14th April 2021 | Comment Food And Farming Editor’s Picks Soybean farming, Mato Grosso Weeds are destroying crops globally - but the real problem is Big …
The very term 'genetic engineering' implies high precision in the alterations made to genes and deep understanding of their consequences, writes Jonathan Latham. In fact, we have never had either. And even with the arrival of CRISPR and other 'gene editing' systems, that remains the case: technologists are thrashing about in a perilous sea of unfathomable complexities and unknowable outcomes.
… genetic modifications: a new era in molecular biology and crop improvement . Planta 239: …
Competition for land, water and energy are increasing, exacerbated by climate change and a growing population. But why does the Food and Agriculture Organisation now believe indigenous people could provide a solution? Peter Giovannini investigates
Do indigenous peoples hold the key to tackling global hunger? Peter Giovannini | 22nd February 2011 News Indigenous People Tribal People Food And Farming Food Security Biodiversity Investigations …
Can food crops really be engineered to thrive - and to yield more - under drought conditions? After 25 years we're still waiting for the flood of evidence, says Prof Jack Heinemann
… of crop plants in different environments. The biology of drought-tolerance Plants respond to … is a professor of genetics and molecular biology at the University of Canterbury, New …
You don't need a smallholding and a meadow to be a budding apiarist - a few sensible precautions will let you fight honeybee decline with a hive in your own backyard
… of things you've got to be aware of: bee biology, bee pests and diseases, the … Hay House) gives a great insight into bee biology and recipe and craft ideas for honey …
Are GMOs safe? Up to a point, writes Jonathan Latham - provided you're not eating them. That's certainly not proven to be safe, indeed the hazards are numerous: protein encoding viral DNA fragments, herbicide metabolites, biotoxins whose operation is not understood, poorly conducted experiments ... and those are just the ones we know about.
… feeling my way in the complex world of biology and of scientific research. Another …
Take part in Beyond GM's survey of public opinion on genome editing in food and farming.
… genome editing, bioengineering, synthetic biology (‘synbio’) , precision fermentation … nature through gene editing, synthetic biology and gene drives as a way of, among …
Biological rocket fuel they may be, but ‘sports’ drinks can be a danger to health in the long term. Pat Thomas reports
Behind the label: Lucozade Sport with Caffeine Boost Pat Thomas | 22nd January 2009 Ethical Living Lucozade Caffeine Energy Drink Behind The Label Glaxosmithkline Isotinic Sports Drink Energy Boost …
There is no stop button......in the race for human re-engineering. Science will soon give some of us the tools to make ourselves cleverer and stronger. What will it mean for humanity?
… Evolution Humanity Science Technology Biology Human Re-engineering Science And … is on the point of being liberated from its biology. In their advocacy of our …