Social Dimensions of Microbial Synthetic Biology

In this chapter, we outline a number of foundational ideas that underpin our approach to the study of the social, ethical, legal and philosophical dimensions of synthetic biology. We describe these through a series of important shifts that have taken place over the past few decades of social science research. We suggest a move away from discussions centred around ethical 'implications', speculations about the future and concerns about risk, regulation and public acceptance, towards a conversation that talks in terms of social 'dimensions', anticipating the future, managing uncertainty, tools of governance and research for the public good. We argue that these seemingly subtle changes in vocabulary open up a new and productive space for thinking about the social dimensions of synthetic biology.