Four suggestions for addressing public concern regarding synthetic biology

The very characteristics of synthetic biology that make it such a promising field are those that introduce concern. Concerns in the field come from a public sphere and from the scientific community itself [1,2]. As concerns arise, the scientific community has the responsibility to respond in a way that benefits the public first. Addressing all of the concerns facing synthetic biology is beyond the scope of this essay. This essay will focus, rather, on a discussion of the challenges associated with synthetic bioterrorism and a proposal of four steps that can be taken in the short term that would foster safety and trust between the community of synthetic biologists (community) and the public whom they serve.Synthetic biology is "an approach to engineering biology [3]." It builds on the foundational principles of recombinant DNA technologies and allows more efficient modification or enhancement of cellular function [4]. Specific applications that simplify and increase efficiency of the modification of cellular function include but are not limited to:？ Creation of databases of units of DNA that "encode basic biological functions" which are "freely available to the public" [5]？ Development of interchangeable biological parts that are easily combined？ Development and improvements in automated DNA synthesis and whole genome synthesis [6,7]？ Relative ease of ordering DNA parts or synthesized DNA [7]？ Potential to own oligonucleotide synthesizers that would enable independent automated DNA synthesis [8]As the technology develops, participating in the science will become increasingly efficient and available to a wide range of people [8]. Reports have been released detailing how scientists synthesized pathogenic viruses including polio virus and the 1918 influenza virus [6,9-11]. These examples show that synthetic biology is very powerful and could potentially be manipulated in a malevolent manner.The Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention prohibits participant nations from u