MIT Technology and Policy Program
Illegal use of opiates such as heroin and morphine affects more than 16 million people worldwide.. Photo: Jerome Sessini/Magnum

TPP Prof. Ken Oye and Colleagues On Regulating the Synthetic Biology of Alkaloid Production
The New York Times | August 20, 2015

ESD.103 instructor Kenneth Oye, with Chap Lawson and Tania Bubela, challenge the synthetic biology community to devise flexible responses to the evolving capabilities of the field to produce problematic compounds in a commentary published in Nature (Drugs; Regulate ‘home brew’ opiates; Nature; V.521, pp. 281-283; 21 May 2016; doi:10.1038/521281a) See also 3 Questions: Kenneth Oye on the regulation of genetic engineering as well as a New York Times article on the Nature comment: A Way to Brew Morphine Raises Concerns Over Regulation; Donald G. McNeil, Jr.; May 18, 2015.


MIT Technology and Policy Program
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
77 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139-4307
617-253-7693