scholarly journals Philosophy of Technoscience: From Cis-Continental to Trans-Continental

2021 ◽  
pp. 229-245
Author(s):  
Hub Zwart
Keyword(s):  
Synthetic Biology ◽  
Dialectical Materialism ◽  
Cambrian Explosion ◽  
Dialectical Thinking ◽  
Line Production ◽  
Terrestrial System ◽  
Comprehensive View ◽  
Synthetic Cell ◽  
Malaria Mosquitoes ◽  
Gene Drives

AbstractThe previous chapters explored how four (interacting and overlapping) continental approaches (dialectics, dialectical materialism, psychoanalysis and phenomenology) offer hints and guidance for coming to terms with the revolutionary dynamics and disruptive impact of contemporary technoscience. Hegelian dialectics provides a conceptual scaffold for developing a comprehensive view of the terrestrial system and even for addressing the Cambrian explosion currently unfolding in laboratories around the globe, as a result of technoscientific developments such as synthetic biology and CRISP-Cas9. Dialectical materialism likewise offers a conceptual framework for addressing the rapidly aggravating disruption of the metabolism between nature and global civilisation, and the ongoing convergence of biosphere and technosphere, exemplified by the synthetic cell. Francophone psychoanalysis, closely aligned with dialectical thinking, adds to our understanding of the specificity of technoscience, both as a practice and as a discourse, where technoscientific research emerges as a questionable vocation driven by a desire to control, but at the same time ostensibly out of control. The dialectical methodology of psychoanalysis was exemplified with the help of case histories, moreover, involving Majorana particles, gene drives, malaria mosquitoes and nude mice. The latter represent technoscientific commodities, exemplifying the assembly-line production of human-made organisms (the commodification of life as such). Subsequently, we demonstrated how Heideggerian phenomenology entails important methodological hints for understanding technoscientific artefacts against the backdrop of technoscience as a mobilising force and as a global enterprise. And finally, we outlined how Teilhard’s views on the genesis of consciousness, self-consciousness and hyperconsciousness retrieve the historical (dialectical) dimension of phenomenology, thus allowing us to assess the present as a global unfolding of the noosphere.

scholarly journals Why is Dialectical Materialism the People's World Outlook and Methodology of the Communist Party of China?

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 128
Author(s):  
Jiayue Quan
Keyword(s):  
Communist Party ◽  
Dialectical Materialism ◽  
Dialectical Thinking ◽  
Communist Party Of China ◽  
World Outlook ◽  
The People ◽  
Thinking Ability ◽  
Push Forward ◽  
Scientific Worldview

Dialectical materialism is the scientific worldview to combinine the materialism and dialectics Organically. Dialectical materialism is the people's world outlook and methodology of the communist party of China. Insisting on the dialectical materialism must proceed from reality; must be positive to face and resolve contradictions encountered in advance; must constantly enhance the dialectical thinking ability; must push forward the theories innovation based on practice.

scholarly journals A genetically encoded anti-CRISPR protein constrains gene drive spread and prevents population suppression

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chrysanthi Taxiarchi ◽  
Andrea Beaghton ◽  
Nayomi Illansinhage Don ◽  
Kyros Kyrou ◽  
Matthew Gribble ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetically Modified Organisms ◽  
Reproductive Capacity ◽  
Gene Drive ◽  
Vector Borne Diseases ◽  
Pathogen Effectors ◽  
Germline Expression ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Malaria Mosquitoes ◽  
Gene Drives ◽  
Population Suppression

AbstractCRISPR-based gene drives offer promising means to reduce the burden of pests and vector-borne diseases. These techniques consist of releasing genetically modified organisms carrying CRISPR-Cas nucleases designed to bias their inheritance and rapidly propagate desired modifications. Gene drives can be intended to reduce reproductive capacity of harmful insects or spread anti-pathogen effectors through wild populations, even when these confer fitness disadvantages. Technologies capable of halting the spread of gene drives may prove highly valuable in controlling, counteracting, and even reverting their effect on individual organisms as well as entire populations. Here we show engineering and testing of a genetic approach, based on the germline expression of a phage-derived anti-CRISPR protein (AcrIIA4), able to inactivate CRISPR-based gene drives and restore their inheritance to Mendelian rates in the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae. Modeling predictions and cage testing show that a single release of male mosquitoes carrying the AcrIIA4 protein can block the spread of a highly effective suppressive gene drive preventing population collapse of caged malaria mosquitoes.

scholarly journals From primal scenes to synthetic cells

eLife ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hub Zwart
Keyword(s):  
Synthetic Biology ◽  
Artificial Life ◽  
Living Cells ◽  
Philosophical Perspective ◽  
Fictional Narratives ◽  
Synthetic Cell ◽  
Synthetic Cells ◽  
Life Projects

Synthetic cells spark intriguing questions about the nature of life. Projects such as BaSyC (Building a Synthetic Cell) aim to build an entity that mimics how living cells work. But what kind of entity would a synthetic cell really be? I assess this question from a philosophical perspective, and show how early fictional narratives of artificial life – such as the laboratory scene in Goethe’s Faust – can help us to understand the challenges faced by synthetic biology researchers.

scholarly journals Synthetic Cells Engaged in Molecular Communication: An Opportunity for Modelling Shannon- and Semantic-Information in the Chemical Domain

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maurizio Magarini ◽  
Pasquale Stano
Keyword(s):  
Synthetic Biology ◽  
Semantic Information ◽  
Emerging Technology ◽  
Shannon Information ◽  
Molecular Communication ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Nano Scale ◽  
Synthetic Cell ◽  
Synthetic Cells ◽  
Cell Fabrication

In this Perspective article we intend to focus on the opportunity of modelling Shannon information and/or “semantic” information in the field originated by the convergence of bottom-up synthetic biology (in particular, the construction of “synthetic cells”) and the engineering approaches to molecular communication. In particular we will argue that the emerging technology of synthetic cell fabrication will allow novel opportunities to study nano-scale communication and manipulation of information in unprecedented manner. More specifically, we will discuss the possibility of enquiring on the transfer and manipulation of information in the chemical domain, and interpreting such a dynamics according to Shannon or to MacKay-Bateson (“semantic” information).

scholarly journals Towards a synthetic cell cycle

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorenzo Olivi ◽  
Mareike Berger ◽  
Ramon N. P. Creyghton ◽  
Nicola De Franceschi ◽  
Cees Dekker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Dna Replication ◽  
Cell Growth ◽  
Synthetic Biology ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Natural Systems ◽  
Synthetic Cell ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
And Control

AbstractRecent developments in synthetic biology may bring the bottom-up generation of a synthetic cell within reach. A key feature of a living synthetic cell is a functional cell cycle, in which DNA replication and segregation as well as cell growth and division are well integrated. Here, we describe different approaches to recreate these processes in a synthetic cell, based on natural systems and/or synthetic alternatives. Although some individual machineries have recently been established, their integration and control in a synthetic cell cycle remain to be addressed. In this Perspective, we discuss potential paths towards an integrated synthetic cell cycle.

Genome Editing, Gene Drives, and Synthetic Biology: Will They Contribute to Disease-Resistant Crops, and Who Will Benefit?

2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 165-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin V. Pixley ◽  
Jose B. Falck-Zepeda ◽  
Ken E. Giller ◽  
Leland L. Glenna ◽  
Fred Gould ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Synthetic Biology ◽  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Genetically Engineered ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Disease Resistant ◽  
Institutional Forces ◽  
Genetically Engineered Crops ◽  
Public And Private Sector ◽  
Gene Drives

Genetically engineered crops have been grown for more than 20 years, resulting in widespread albeit variable benefits for farmers and consumers. We review current, likely, and potential genetic engineering (GE) applications for the development of disease-resistant crop cultivars. Gene editing, gene drives, and synthetic biology offer novel opportunities to control viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens, parasitic weeds, and insect vectors of plant pathogens. We conclude that there will be no shortage of GE applications totackle disease resistance and other farmer and consumer priorities for agricultural crops. Beyond reviewing scientific prospects for genetically engineered crops, we address the social institutional forces that are commonly overlooked by biological scientists. Intellectual property regimes, technology regulatory frameworks, the balance of funding between public- and private-sector research, and advocacy by concerned civil society groups interact to define who uses which GE technologies, on which crops, and for the benefit of whom. Ensuring equitable access to the benefits of genetically engineered crops requires affirmative policies, targeted investments, and excellent science.

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