Playing God and tampering with nature: popular labels for real concerns in synthetic biology.

Public engagement in science with diverse cross-sections of the community is considered a critical aspect of responsible biotechnological innovation. While the research community shows willingness to engage with both ambivalent and supportive audiences about potentially disruptive technological advances, there is less enthusiasm for engaging with groups who hold deeply opposing views to such advances. 'Playing God' and 'tampering with nature' are popular examples of intrinsic objections often made in opposition to the development or use of novel genetic technologies. Historically appearing in arguments against the pursuit of genetically modified organisms in agriculture and food industries, intrinsic objections have previously been labelled by the science community as inconsistent, non-scientific, and vague. Now found in a range of innovation contexts, the domain of synthetic biology appears to attract such objections consistently. We present the findings from a large Australian study (N = 4593) which suggests 'playing God' objections and their variants can be multilayered and, at times, accompanied by meaningful information about risk perceptions. We use qualitative analysis of open-ended responses from an online survey to show how these objections are articulated in response to selected synthetic biology applications across environmental and health domains. Our research invites a rethink of how the synthetic biology community perceives, and engages with, people who express intrinsic objections. These people may additionally hold extrinsic concerns that may be potentially addressed, or at least reasonably considered, through dialogue. We offer some concluding remarks for engaging with publics who employ these types of arguments to communicate unease with aspects of technology development and use.

Mutagenesis of the peptidyltransferase center of 23S rRNA: the invariant U2449 is dispensable.

U2449 is one of many invariant residues in the central loop of domain V of 23S rRNA, a region that constitutes part of the peptidyltransferase center of the ribosome. In Escherichia coli, this U is post-transcriptionally modified to dihydrouridine (D) and is the only D modification found in E.coli rRNAs. To analyze the role of this base and its modification in ribosomal function, all three base substitutions were constructed on a plasmid copy of the rrnB operon and assayed for their ability to support cell growth in a strain of E.coli lacking chromosomal rrn operons. Both purine substitution mutations were not viable. However, growth and antibiotic sensitivity of cells expressing only the mutant D2449C rRNA was indistinguishable from wild type. We conclude that while a pyrimidine is required at position 2449 for proper ribosomal function, the D modification is dispensable.

Accidental total spinal block: a complication of an epidural test dose.

A case is presented of a 36-yr-old parturient who developed a total spinal block after an epidural test dose. After placement of an epidural catheter and confirming negative aspiration for blood or CSF, 3 ml lidocaine 1.5% (45 mg), with 1:200,000 epinephrine (15 micrograms) was injected via the catheter over 30 sec. Within two minutes the patient developed hypotension and extensive sensory and motor block including respiratory paralysis and aphonia. She remained fully conscious and alert and spontaneous respiration recommenced in five minutes. A live healthy infant was delivered by emergency Caesarean section shortly afterwards under general anaesthesia and the mother recovered completely without any untoward sequelae.

Evaluation of arterial oxygen saturation in pregnant patients and their newborns.

Continuous oxygen saturation measurements were obtained in 103 pregnant patients and 96 of their newborns by a pulse oximeter during the peripartum period. The parturients received narcotic sedation; epidural, spinal, or general anesthesia; or no analgesia. Seventy-nine patients had oxygen saturation levels over 90% (mean 97.6%), and 24 had one or more oxygen saturation levels less than or equal to 90% (mean 95.6%, P = .001). For all neonates, the mean oxygen saturation was in the "hypoxic range" at one minute (77.6 +/- 11.48%), five minutes (84.4 +/- 7.64%), and ten minutes (89.4 +/- 6.29%). More desaturation episodes were noted in mothers exposed to a central nervous system depressant (P = .041). When mothers with and without desaturation events were compared, no differences were found for age, parity, race, hematocrit, smoking, hypotensive episodes, or delivery route. More maternal desaturation episodes occurred during transport (P = .0016) and while in the recovery room (P = .0003) than in other study periods. Maternal peripartum desaturation events occurred without adverse neonatal effect when prompt treatment was provided. Neonatal hemoglobin oxygen saturation less than or equal to 90% is commonly found within ten minutes after birth and does not always merit the designation of "hypoxia."