Abstract:The rapid development of synthetic biology has aroused widespread concern in the academic community. The engineering properties of synthetic biology individualize it the practical meaning of "design" and "reconstruction". The artificially designed life can be introduced to the traditional DNA-based life evolution process, which may lead to a series of safety risks and ethical arguments. The article explores the controversy caused by the landmark events in the development of synthetic biology, draws in-depth analysis on the safety risks of synthetic biology, as well as the ethical dilemmas and inducements of them. Based on the regulatory mechanism of European countries and U.S., several recommendations were put forward on ethical regulation of synthetic biology in China.