1.
Governing Non-Traditional
Biology
Max Mehlman
June 17, 2019
NIH Human Genome Research Institute
1R03HG010256-01A1

2.
TRADITIONAL SCIENCE

3.
NON-TRADITIONAL SCIENCE

4.
NON-TRADITIONAL BIOLOGY

5.
COMMUNITY LABS

6.
GENE EDITING EQUIPMENT

7.
TRADITIONAL GENE EDITING

8.
NON-TRADITIONAL GENE EDITING

9.
IGEM

10.
ON-LINE GENE EDITING EQUIPMENT

11.
FBI RAIDS

12.
GENE DRIVES

13.
“Adopt safe practices.”
“Biotechnology should only
be used for peaceful
purposes.”

14.
“It remains to be seen how the ease
of CRISPR will impact …use. Garage
applications are not realistic ….”

15.
“Most DIYers are still learning
basic biotechnology.”

16.
“SPACE TRAVEL IS BUNK” – SIR
HAROLD SPENCER JONES,
BRITISH ROYAL ASTRONOMER,
TWO WEEKS BEFORE LAUNCH
OF SPUTNIK, 1957

17.
CURRENT NTB GENE EDITING CAPABILITIES
• Gene drives in non-animal organisms.
• Gene drives in some vertebrates (fish, frogs)
• Humans?

18.
NON-TRADITIONAL BIOLOGY: HUMAN GENE EDITING

19.
ON THE GENE-EDITING HORIZON

20.
ON THE GENE-EDITING HORIZON

21.
HAM RADIO

22.
SPORT ROCKETRY

23.
HOME BREWING

24.
DRONES

25.
COMPUTER HACKING

26.
INTERESTS AT STAKE
(VARY BY STAKEHOLDER)
• Freedom to experiment.
• Advancement of science.
• Spread of scientific knowledge.
• Counterculture ethos.
• Financial gain.
• Non-interference with traditional biological interests (careers, status,
wealth).
• Avoidance of harm to subjects.
• Public health, safety, and well-being.

27.
REGULATORY OPTIONS
• Status quo.
• Greater self-governance.
• Industry restrictions on access to commercial materials and
equipment.
• Legal requirements (licensure, training requirements, prior approval).
• Liability for harm to subjects or the environment.
• Prohibition (Germany).

28.
GREATER SELF-GOVERNANCE
• More active and effective self-governing bodies, perhaps led by
community labs.
• Self-monitoring.
• NTB IRBs.
• Sanctions on unethical experimenters (exclusion from labs, iGEM, and
gatherings; being reported to government regulators).