Freewrite

The tremendous advances in medical technology and genetic engineering have allowed scientists to manipulate the very building blocks of life itself.  A relatively new area of research has emerged from the combination of biology and engineering, it is called synthetic biology. With this incredible technology, scientists have been able to recreate viruses, and even generate a new form of bacteria. The ability to reprogram living systems could lead to cures for diseases, solutions to environmental woes, and even a way to end our dependence on fossil fuels.  Synthetic biology's potential for doing good is unfortunately equaled by it's potential for disaster.  Already there are many ethical and security related concerns about the new technology.  One area of concern is the rapidly expanding group of hobbyists and enthusiasts that are embracing the new science.  Motivated by the falling costs of equipment and supplies, many people have decided to try their hand at synthetic biology in garage and closet labs across the country.  As of now there is little to no regulation of this emerging class of scientist.  The government needs to step in to provide guidance, and when needed, oversight of the do it yourself community.

The do it yourself biologists, or diy bio for short, have a vibrant thriving community.  Many groups have created websites to assist new members, and many have blogs to share their research and goals. The scientific community has generated hundreds of papers dealing with synthetic biology and genetic engineering, which can be used to gauge the necessity for regulation.  Both the U.S. and the U.K. have commissioned reports concerning synthetic biology and it's possible security risks.  Although neither report deals with the diy issue directly, they give invaluable insight into how government views the science as a whole.

The technologies that the hobbyists are using are new, and the boundaries of the science have not yet been defined.  Because of this, figuring out which legislative or enforcement options should be used could prove to be difficult.  Much of the research will depend on questions of security that have yet to be defined.