Issues focuses on scientific breakthroughs that have propelled biotechnololgy at a dizzying pace into the 21st century. Evolving in tandem with biotech innovations, ethics looks at complex decisions that affect a few individuals or an entire social group or society.

Issues

Overview

• Biotechnology Industry Review - overview of the biotechnology industry from dairy farming to waste management
• The Future Of Genetic Research - 1991 report looks at the perils and problems of gene manipulation

Animal Genome Projects

• Introduction - The Human Genome Project - the "why's" of identifying our genetic instructions
• Ethical Issues of the Human Genome Project - high costs limit sequencing efforts to non-coding regions with complete sequencing to follow
• Research Update - Animals and Animal Health - efforts to determine the genetic makeup of domestic animals
• A Short History of Mapping - the grand plan to map the human genome
• What Can We Expect from the Human Genome Project? - the "what's to be gained" from sequencing human genes
• Whose Genome is It, Anyway?
• A Worldwide Effort - sequencing human genetic code involves many countries

Plant Genome Projects

• Are Bioengineered Foods Safe? from the FDA Consumer Magazine, January-February 2000
• Who Controls and Who Will Benefit from Plant Genomics? "The 2000 Genome Seminar: Genomic Revolution in the Fields: Facing the Needs of the New Millennium" AAAS Annual Meeting

Environmental Management

• Why It Matters - Humans are superconsumers of the environment and there are economic, aesthetic and ethical reasons for concern
• Helping Mother Nature Heal with Her Own Remedies -
• Rio Declaration On Environment and Development - 27 principles directing an equitable global partnership for managing the environment

Gene Therapy

• Gene Therapy - An Overview - dealing with genetic diseases amenable to treatment in the future

Bioethics

Social Practices and Policies: Connecting You to Society

• An Approach to Teaching Ethical Decision Making in Medicine and Life Sciences - a conversation with Ernle Young, Ph.D. about how clinicians and others make complex decisions when people are ill
• Biotechnology's Impact on Society - the risks of biotechnology to society: cost-benefit ratios
• Challenges to Public Policy - talk given by Donald Kennedy, Ph.D about regulating biotechnology.
• Culture Clash - Most collaborations between industry and academia are positive: companies get research done, and academics get funding. But when results are unexpectedly negative, things can get messy.
• Democratizing Technology - government efforts to "politicize" technology through competiveness
• DNA on the Witness Stand Eric S. Lander, DPhil. The issues concerning the use of genetic evidence in civil and criminal court cases from Winding Your Way Through DNA Symposium
• Epistemology of Science - ways of knowing the truth: role of science in decision making
• The Genetic Revolution: Ethical Issues - Ernle Young, Ph.D. comments on gene testing, genetic therapies, eugenics and enhancement
• Genetic Testing - Health Care Issues - an interview with Neil Holzman, Ph.D. regarding genetic testing and Constitutional issues
• Musings On Cattle Cloning - Tom Zinnen, Ph.D. comments on the promise and problems of cloning domestic animals
• NIH Publishes Revised Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules - 1994 guidelines and brief historical perspective for development
• Scientist Returns Research Grant to Show Concern about Dangers of Genetically Engineered Organisms - 1994 John Fagan, Ph.D. returns grant money to NIH because of concerns about genetic manipulation of plants and animals
• Talking and Teaching Biotech - Tom Zinnen, Ph.D comments on how to educate the general public about biotechnology
• To Regulate or Not to Regulate - Henry Miller, Ph.D. says that regulatory red tape is strangling progress in biotechnology and calls for a government overhaul of relevant agency policies
• Risky Business: Issues in Teaching about Safety and Regulation - Tom Zinnen, Ph.D. argues for improving public understanding of biotechnology products to correct misconceptions
• Some Questions and Answers about BGH/BST - bovine growth hormone: safe and sane?
• Wholesome, Holistic and Holy: Controversies over Biotechnology and Food - overview of the controversies around food consumption and genetic manipulation of food sources

Bioethics and You: Issues of Individual Decision Making

• Genetic Testing in a Clinical Setting - perspectives of a genetic counselor dealing with real cases in a clinical setting
• Promise and Perils of Biotechnology: Genetic Testing (teacher resources & student activities)
• Teaching Bioethics - incorporating bioethics information into biology curricula
• Why Teach Bioethics in the Classroom - theoretical discussion of ethical principles and practical suggestions for classroom use

The Gene Connection™ Second Annual Bioethics Symposium and Workshop presented by the San Mateo County Biotechnology Education Partnership, features discussions and case studies on ethical and social issues arising from genetic testing, gene therapy, genetic enhancement, cloning, and genetic counseling.

Issues and Ethics Index

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