Synthetic Biology -- Contents -- List of Contributors -- Short CV of Contributors -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Executive Summary -- Biofuels -- Bioremediation -- Biomaterials -- Novel Developments in Synthetic Biology -- Introduction -- What Are Synthetic Biology Applications? -- Which Synthetic Biology Applications Did We Consider? -- Selecting and Assessing Synthetic Biology Applications -- The Regulatory Context for Synthetic Biology -- References -- 1: Biofuels -- 1.1 Biofuels in General -- 1.1.1 Introduction -- 1.1.2 Economic Potential -- 1.1.3 Environmental Impact -- 1.1.3.1 Land Requirements for Projected Biofuel Use -- 1.1.3.2 Other Environmental Concerns -- 1.1.3.3 Impact of Legislative Decicions -- 1.1.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspects -- 1.1.4.1 How Could the New SB Application Impact Society at Large? -- 1.2 Ethanol -- 1.2.1 Introduction -- 1.2.2 Economic Potential -- 1.2.3 Environmental Impact -- 1.2.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspects -- 1.2.4.1 Could the Application Change Social Interactions? -- 1.2.4.2 Producing Countries, Rich Countries? -- 1.3 Non-ethanol Fuels -- 1.3.1 Introduction -- 1.3.2 Economic Potential -- 1.3.3 Environmental Impact -- 1.3.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspects -- 1.3.4.1 Impact on Social Interaction -- 1.4 Algae-based Fuels -- 1.4.1 Introduction -- 1.4.2 Economic Potential -- 1.4.3 Environmental Impact -- 1.4.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspects -- 1.4.4.1 Could the Application Change Social Interactions? -- 1.5 Hydrogen Production -- 1.5.1 Introduction -- 1.5.2 Economic Potential -- 1.5.2.1 Cost Comparison with Gasoline for Transport Fuels -- 1.5.3 Environmental Impact -- 1.5.3.1 Environmental Concerns -- 1.5.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspects -- 1.5.4.1 Could the Application Change Social Interactions? If Yes, in Which Way? -- 1.6 Microbial Fuel Cells and Bio-photovoltaics.

1.6.1 Introduction -- 1.6.2 Economic Potential -- 1.6.3 Environmental Impact -- 1.6.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspects -- 1.7 Recommendations for Biofuels -- References -- 2: Bioremediation -- 2.1 Bioremediation in General -- 2.1.1 Introduction -- 2.1.2 Economic Potential -- 2.1.3 Environmental Impact -- 2.1.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspects -- 2.2 Detection of Environmental Pollutants (Biosensors) -- 2.2.1 Introduction -- 2.2.2 Economic Potential -- 2.2.3 Environmental Impact -- 2.2.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspects -- 2.3 Water Treatment -- 2.3.1 Introduction -- 2.3.2 Economic Potential -- 2.3.3 Environmental Impact -- 2.3.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspects -- 2.4 Water Desalination with Biomembranes -- 2.4.1 Introduction -- 2.4.2 Economic Potential -- 2.4.3 Environmental Impact -- 2.4.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspects -- 2.5 Soil and Groundwater Decontamination -- 2.5.1 Introduction -- 2.5.2 Economic Potential -- 2.5.3 Environmental Impact -- 2.5.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspects -- 2.6 Solid Waste Treatment -- 2.6.1 Introduction -- 2.6.2 Economic Potential -- 2.6.3 Environmental Impact -- 2.6.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspects -- 2.7 CO2 Recapturing -- 2.7.1 Introduction -- 2.7.2 Economic Potential -- 2.7.2.1 How Is Carbon Traded? -- 2.7.3 Environmental Impact -- 2.7.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspects -- 2.8 Recommendations for Bioremediation -- References -- Further Reading -- 3: Biomaterials -- 3.1 Biomaterials in General -- 3.1.1 Introduction -- 3.1.2 Economic Potential -- 3.1.3 Environmental Impact -- 3.1.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspects -- 3.2 Biopolymers/Plastics -- 3.2.1 Introduction -- 3.2.2 Economic Potential -- 3.2.3 Environmental Impact -- 3.2.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspects -- 3.3 Bulk Chemical Production -- 3.3.1 Introduction -- 3.3.2 Economic Potential.

3.3.3 Environmental Impact -- 3.3.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspects -- 3.4 Fine Chemical Production -- 3.4.1 Introduction -- 3.4.1.1 Vitamins and Pharmaceuticals -- 3.4.2 Economic Potential -- 3.4.3 Environmental Impact -- 3.4.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspects -- 3.5 Cellulosomes -- 3.5.1 Introduction -- 3.5.2 Economic Potential -- 3.5.3 Environmental Impact -- 3.5.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspects -- 3.6 Recommendations for Biomaterials -- References -- Further Reading -- 4: Other Developments in Synthetic Biology -- 4.1 Protocells -- 4.1.1 Introduction -- 4.1.2 Economic Potential -- 4.1.3 Environmental Impact -- 4.1.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspects -- 4.2 Xenobiology -- 4.2.1 Introduction -- 4.2.2 Economic Potential -- 4.2.3 Environmental Impact -- 4.2.4 Foreseeable Social and Ethical Aspect -- 4.3 Recommendations for Protocells and Xenobiology -- References -- Further Reading -- 5: Regulatory Frameworks for Synthetic Biology -- 5.1 United States of America -- 5.1.1 Introduction -- 5.1.2 United States Federal Regulations and Guidelines -- 5.1.2.1 National Institutes of Health: Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules -- 5.1.2.2 Environmental Protection Agency, US Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration -- 5.1.2.3 USDA Animal and Plant Heath Inspection Service -- 5.1.2.4 Food and Drug Administration -- 5.1.2.5 Department of Commerce Regulations -- 5.1.2.6 Select Agent Rules -- 5.1.2.7 Screening Guidance for Providers of Synthetic Double-Stranded DNA -- 5.1.3 International Conventions and Agreements -- 5.1.3.1 The Convention on Biological Diversity -- 5.1.3.2 The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the Nagoya-Kuala Lumpar Supplementary Protocol on Liability -- 5.1.3.3 The Biological Weapons Convention -- 5.1.3.4 The Australia Group Guidelines.

5.1.4 Conclusions: Current Coverage and Future Considerations -- 5.1.4.1 Current Coverage -- 5.1.4.2 Future Prospects -- 5.2 Europe -- 5.2.1 Introduction -- 5.2.1.1 Synthetic Biology as a Novel Science and Engineering Field -- 5.2.1.2 Synthetic Biology versus Genetic Engineering -- 5.2.2 Existing Regulations -- 5.2.2.1 European Union -- 5.2.2.2 Examples of National Regulations -- 5.2.2.3 Austria -- 5.2.2.4 Germany -- 5.2.2.5 United Kingdom -- 5.2.2.6 Switzerland -- 5.2.3 Options for Adapting and Improving Regulations -- 5.2.4 Outlook -- 5.3 China -- 5.3.1 Introduction -- 5.3.2 General Provisions -- 5.3.3 Biosecurity and Dual Use -- 5.3.4 Options for Adapting and Improving Regulations -- 5.3.5 Outlook -- References -- Further Reading -- Annex A List of Biofuel Companies -- Annex B List of Bioremediation Companies -- Index.