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Context, Existing Frameworks, and Practicality: Moving Forward with Synthetic Biology
Author(s) -
Carter Sarah R.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
hastings center report
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.515
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1552-146X
pISSN - 0093-0334
DOI - 10.1002/hast.401
Subject(s) - synthetic biology , context (archaeology) , value (mathematics) , corporate governance , computer science , engineering ethics , data science , management science , risk analysis (engineering) , biology , business , computational biology , economics , engineering , paleontology , finance , machine learning
Synthetic biology has generated extensive discussion about a wide range of risks and potential benefits, the intrinsic value of the technology, and the societal distribution of its risks and benefits. However, before these questions can be resolved, it is important to first ask a critical question: Is synthetic biology different enough from the technologies that came before it that it raises new questions or concerns? By putting synthetic biology into context, we gain a better understanding of the issues, both old and new, that it raises. We can then consider practical governance questions, including ways to improve current practices .