Synthetic biology as understanding, control, construction, and creation? Techno-epistemic and socio-political implications of different stances in talking and doing technoscience

► Synthetic and systems biology are often characterised as “two sides of the same coin”. ► These two sides refer to construction and understanding or engineering and science. ► Their techno-epistemic cultures also include interventionist and creationist stances. ► A more detailed analysis of these stances allows for a deeper socio-political debate. ► Such a debate should encompass problems of quality control and displaced politics.