The Future Of Synthetic Biology

At the frontier of biotech innovation, synthetic biology promises revolutionary advancements in agriculture, health and medicine, energy, and more. The ability to better understand and encode life’s building blocks, has the potential to improve the environment, raise life expectancy, and advance the human condition. This emerging field, however, does raise significant ethical, economic, and security concerns, including human enhancement, DNA patenting, and international competition. To harness the synthetic biology’s benefits while addressing its challenges, strategic public-private partnerships are crucial for responsible development, societal benefits, and sustained competitiveness.

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The opinions expressed in this video are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Hoover Institution or Stanford University. © 2024 by the Board of Trustees of Leland Stanford Junior University.

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Drew Endy

Associate Professor of Bioengineering

Drew Endy is the Martin Family University Fellow in Undergraduate Education (bioengineering), codirector of degree programs for the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (the d.school), core faculty at the Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC), and senior fellow (courtesy) of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. He serves as president and director of the Biobricks Foundation and director of the iGEM Foundation and the Biobuilder Educational Foundation. His research focuses on the foundations of synthetic biology along with broader societal aspects. He earned a PhD in biotechnology and biochemical engineering from Dartmouth College.