Scientists and policymakers have determined that the nascent synthetic biology industry has to engage with the public if it is to head off the problems that genetically modified (GM) crop technology suffered in the 1990s. Synthetic biology, which uses human-defined genetic sequences to produce customised biological organisms, is a rapidly developing field that is now raising concern about the safeguards that are in place. Biologists in the field feel that the dangers are exaggerated, but are worried that they may lose the ability to pursue research if they do not work harder to influence public opinion.
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