How might synthetic biology shape our future ecosystems, and what safeguards should we consider to protect natural biodiversity?

ANSWER: Synthetic biology could redesign organisms to benefit ecosystems, like plants that reduce carbon or bacteria that clean pollutants. However, these alterations risk displacing native species and disrupting food webs. Safeguards should include thorough risk assessments, containment strategies to prevent accidental release, constant monitoring for unintended consequences, and ethical guidelines to preserve natural biodiversity. It's crucial to balance innovation with ecological preservation to ensure a sustainable integration of synthetic biology into our future ecosystems.