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合成生物学(synthetic biology)是生物学与工程学的结合,它以对生命的设计、修饰和建构为目的,对认识和理解生命过程,解决能源、环境和健康问题具有重要的意义。但是另一方面,合成生物学也带来了一系列新的问题,包括生物安全问题和对生命概念理解的问题。文章在对合成生物学的利益与风险的分析基础上,指出了合成生物学本质上的不确定性和不可控性特征。将合成生物学视阈下的生命概念与宗教、进化论和传统哲学对生命的理解对照,指出合成生物学将生命还原为可以借生命元件组装的生命体可能带来的对生命的漠视。最后提出,科学上能够做的未必应该做,能够不仅意味着权力,更是一种责任,呼吁谨慎地开展合成生物学的研究。
Synthetic biology is a combination of biology and engineering. It aims to understand and understand life processes, and solve energy, environment and health problems. It aims at the design, modification and construction of life. But on the other hand, synthetic biology has also brought a series of new problems, including biosafety issues and understanding of the concept of life. Based on the analysis of the benefits and risks of synthetic biology, the article points out the inherent uncertainty and uncontrollable characteristics of synthetic biology. By contrasting the concept of life with the view of religion, evolution and traditional philosophy from the perspective of synthetic biology, we point out that synthetic biology may reduce life to the indifference to life that life components can assemble. In the end, it is even more of a responsibility to call for cautious studies of synthetic biology in the sense that what science can do is not necessarily what it can do. It can not only mean power but also responsibility.