title: Synthetic biology and its regulation in the European Union.
abstract: The term synthetic biology is used increasingly, but without a clear definition. Most of the recent research carried out in this field is genetic engineering, as defined by current GMO-legislation in the EU. Synthetic biology has developed its own language. In vitro synthesis of DNA also carries the label synthetic biology. It is important to analyze whether present and future activities of synthetic biology are within the scope of existing EU-legislation.
authors.affiliation: Federal Ministry of Food, and Agriculture, Division Research and Innovation, Wilhelmstraße 54, D-10117 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: hans-joerg.buhk@bmel.bund.de.
authors.forename: Hans-Jörg
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Buhk
mesh_terms: D005062:European Union; D023281:Genomics; D030781:Organisms, Genetically Modified; D058615:Synthetic Biology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*