A radical new endeavor, the Synthetic Human Genome Project, is attempting to build synthetic human DNA from scratch, but who is asking how this science will impact society?
Leading an effort to analyze these new genomic developments from a social science perspective is Professor Joy Zhang of the University of Kent. With major technologies poised to radically transform society, staying ahead of these changes has become a significant concern for technologists and policymakers alike.
Synthetic Human Genome Project
“The sky is the limit. We are looking at therapies that will improve people’s lives as they age, that will lead to healthier aging with less disease as they get older,” Dr Julian Sale, of the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, recently told the BBC.
The possibilities offered by the Synthetic Human Genome Project are enormous. Currently funded by the Wellcome Trust, the world’s largest medical charity, the project is working on creating increasingly large sections of DNA, with plans to eventually build an entire chromosome. The initiative could one day help eradicate certain diseases, but some caution that it might also pave the way for designer babies and genetically modified humans.
Aware of these concerns, the project’s leaders worked to incorporate a social science component within its framework from the outset.
Entering the Conversation
Zhang has been an active voice in the UK’s synthetic biology regulatory conversations for over two decades. She was lead author of the influential working paper The Transnational Governance of Synthetic Biology: Scientific Uncertainty, Cross-Borderness, and the ‘Art’ of Governance, which helped frame discussions ahead of the UK, US, and Chinese synthetic biology symposia in 2011, with each nation represented by two academic institutions.
“My role in this project also builds on my recent work on the global governance of, and international collaboration around, human genome editing, as both areas raise overlapping ethical and social justice concerns,” Zhang told The Debrief.
Before transitioning to sociology, Zhang was trained in clinical medicine, giving her a rare combination of expertise in empirical scientific research and an understanding of the needs of diverse and marginalized groups.
Reviewing the Synthetic Human Genome Project
Zhang says the new project represents a fundamental shift, even compared to the advanced CRISPR technology making headlines today. While CRISPR is relatively inexpensive and accessible, synthetic DNA is a more ambitious undertaking, requiring greater skill and specialized facilities—but offering broader and more fundamental possibilities.
As such, the Synthetic Human Genome Project made its social science element an essential, peer-reviewed component of the collaboration.
“I believe there has been growing awareness among major funders—at least in the UK—of the value of embedding social scientific research within science projects, especially those involving large-scale, fundamental scientific endeavours like this one,” Zhang said.
“Such projects are expected not only to transform how research is organised, delivered, and conceptualised, but also to give rise to new socio-ethical scenarios.”
Working Across Disciplines and Cultures
Speaking with The Debrief, Zhang emphasized that listening must extend beyond academia to include stakeholders such as the general public, whose future will be shaped by these advances.
“I believe that a decision and commitment to listen are essential,” Zhang said.
In formulating research questions, her team is interested in “how different communities relate to the synthetic human genome,” with Zhang noting that different cultures have varying perspectives. Understanding these concerns will be essential for sharing the project’s knowledge responsibly and fairly.
The project aims to investigate a range of reactions, examining the views of civil society, industry, academia, and policymakers. Their methodology will combine direct data collection—including interviews, focus groups, surveys, and observations—with analysis of media coverage and official policies.
Fundamentally, Zhang believes that among major technological players, there is a growing recognition of the importance of social factors in disruptive technologies such as genetics and AI. Additionally, social science engagement will “help identify, understand, and proactively address social concerns,” with hard science and technology more broadly, according to Zhang.
While Zhang has some of the research questions and mythologies mapped out, her work—like the rest of the project—is only beginning, and will be aided over time by the collaborations that arise as a result of its effforts.
“Transdisciplinary collaboration is always challenging,” Zhang said. “[I]t requires all parties to step out of their comfort zones, to be vulnerable and humble, and to acknowledge the limits of their own knowledge and abilities.”
Ryan Whalen covers science and technology for The Debrief. He holds an MA in History and a Master of Library and Information Science with a certificate in Data Science. He can be contacted at ryan@thedebrief.org, and follow him on Twitter @mdntwvlf.