Synthetic Biology as a Techno-Scientific Field of Security Concern

Abstract

In this chapter, there is an introduction to the field of synthetic biology as a field of security concern. This involves characterising this area of innovation as an emergent ‘techno-scientific’ field—characterised by hype, ambiguity, institution building and power struggles. In this chapter, it is argued that fields such as synthetic biology are not only subject to security politics, but also help shape national approaches to security. The field is characterised as a disciplinary paradigm, as an emergent academic community, as a national scientific project and finally, as a field of national and international security concern.