The Hope and Challenge of Synthetic Biology

Mankind’s newfound ability to edit germline codes will soon be widely available. We will also be able to extend the palette of naturally available amino acids for molecular assembly. The opportunity to heal disease, improve memory, increase strength, and extend lifetime is exciting. The threat that an ideological enemy could insert malfeasant and irreversible mutations is frightening. The United States, at least, needs a policy framework that defines and addresses the five key decisions that will determine whether we can leverage the benefits and simultaneously defend against attacks.