Volume 21, Issue 1 (Iranian South Medical Journal 2018)
Iran South Med J 2018, 21(1): 1-18 |
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Nabipour I. Philosophy of Synthetic Biology. Iran South Med J 2018; 21 (1) :1-18
URL: http://ismj.bpums.ac.ir/article-1-910-en.html
URL: http://ismj.bpums.ac.ir/article-1-910-en.html
The Persian Gulf Marine Biotechnology Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
Future Studies Group, The Academy of Medical Sciences of the I.R. Iran , Inabipour@gmail.com
Future Studies Group, The Academy of Medical Sciences of the I.R. Iran , Inabipour@gmail.com
Abstract: (5571 Views)
Synthetic biology is a novel branch of biological sciences. With the creation of synthetic microorganisms with minimal genome compatible with life, Craig Venter had provoked hot philosophical discussions about the nature of life. Furthermore, recent advancements in synthetic biology have revived philosophical discussions about hybrid entities “synthetic organisms” and “living machines” and fundamental differences between biological machines and the living world. This paper is a critical analysis of the philosophical perspective on the design of synthetic organisms, minimal genome and artificial life. It also presents a critical view on knowledge-making practices in synthetic biology on Richard Feynman’s statement: “What I cannot create, I do not understand.”
Keywords: Synthetic biology, Biological systems, Minimal life, Artificial life, Philosophy, Synthetic organisms
Type of Study: Review |
Subject:
History of Medicine. Medical Miscellany
Received: 2018/02/1 | Accepted: 2018/02/7 | Published: 2018/02/26
Received: 2018/02/1 | Accepted: 2018/02/7 | Published: 2018/02/26
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