Synthetic Biology

Synthetic biology falls within the scope of biotechnology, as defined by the Convention on Biological Diversity i.e. “... any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use.” Synthetic biology methodologies and techniques share various degrees of overlap with those of “modern biotechnology” and, in particular, the “application of in vitro nucleic acid
techniques […] that overcome natural physiological reproductive or recombination barriers and that are
not techniques used in traditional breeding and selection” as defined in the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety