Synthetic life put under the microscope

AN OPEN debate on the potentials and pitfalls of creating synthetic life is to be held in the Capital tomorrow.

Scottish Enterprise will be hosting the debate – entitled Designer Life: Scotland's Next Industrial Revolution? – as part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival.

Synthetic Life is poised to develop radically over the next decade, and the technology could solve some of the biggest challenges of the modern world, but is fraught with ethical dilemmas.

The panel will feature renowned chemist and synthetic biology expert Professor Ben Davis, former Bishop of Edinburgh Richard Holloway and Professor Joyce Tait of the Innogen Centre (ESRC Centre for Social and Economic Research on Innovation in Genomics) of the University of Edinburgh.

Rhona Allison, senior director of Life Sciences at Scottish Enterprise, said: "We're delighted to host what is set to be a hugely interesting debate. Synthetic life is currently one of science's most topical areas. It's certainly a debate not to be missed."

The debate will be chaired by science expert and presenter of Radio 4's The Material World, Quentin Cooper, and will take place at the Royal College of Surgeons.