Capitol News

Felicia Wu, a distinguished professor at Michigan State University, has been appointed as co-chair of a committee by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM). The committee will focus on ethical, legal, environmental, safety, security, and societal issues related to engineering biology research and development.

“It is such an honor to co-chair this National Academies committee,” Wu stated, reflecting on her work in agricultural biotechnology over the past 25 years. “While I’ve worked in agricultural biotechnology since 2000, so much has changed since then that its applications now were almost unimaginable 25 years ago. For example, we can imbed genetically engineered, or GE, microbes into concrete so that it has the ability to self-heal from cracks," she added.

Wu explained how GE microbes are being employed in various innovative ways, including allowing crops to fix nitrogen from the air rather than using nitrogen fertilizers. Other GE microbes have the capability to remediate pollution spills. “We can program cells, and make synthetic cells, with a variety of functions. But even as we celebrate biotechnology’s possibilities, we need to carefully assess risks as well as ethical, legal and social implications of such technologies,” she commented.

Wu added that the committee is exploring the risks associated with mirror life, a synthetic biology concept involving the creation of cells with DNA and proteins that are mirror images of those found in natural life. “If such mirror bacteria could be created, they may evade organisms’ natural immune responses and could pose risks to human health and the ecosystem,” Wu noted. This research follows work by MSU's Richard Lenski and James Tiedje.

Beyond her academic work, Wu is engaged in various roles including committee memberships with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Health Organization. She is also recognized as a fellow of the Society for Risk Analysis and has served on previous committees such as the US National Academy of Sciences committee on animal sciences research. Additionally, she was appointed to Michigan's Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development by Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

Wu holds a doctorate in engineering and public policy from Carnegie Mellon University and has degrees in applied mathematics and medical sciences from Harvard University.