Synthetic Biology: legal context and public policies

The paper considers three questions with the goal of improving the proposals about the governance and regulation of Synthetic Biology. First, it looks at the relationship between some of the breakthroughs in this field and the public interest in the matter. Second, it is mentioned the international regulation on this topic and particularly the principles that inform and should inform this matter. Third, a critical consideration on the reports devoted to the ethical and social aspects of Synthetic Biology is included.