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Synthetic Biology Oversight (PER News Report)
(Web Page on this Site)
In mid-March, The Principles for the Oversight of Synthetic Biology was released and endorsed by a coalition of 111 organizations from around the world [1]. This publication is the first attempt to establish international oversight guidelines for the biological sciences. The publication focuses primarily on providing general, guiding principles for the regulation of synthetic biology. It does not, however, propose a specific implementation framework for the principles. Principally, this publication is intended as a first step in establishing more formal regulatory guidelines for synthetic biology.
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The Governance of Synthetic Biology: Are We Making Progress?
(Web Page on this Site)
WASHINGTON (Feb. 8, 2012) – The Synthetic Biology Project at the Woodrow Wilson Center is launching a new web-based Synthetic Biology Scorecard, designed to track federal and non-federal efforts to improve the governance of synthetic biology research and development so risks are minimized and broad social and economic benefits can be realized.
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Activities and Resources on Biosecurity from Academies and Scientific Unions
(Resource Collection)
This list of links was originally compiled by the Global Network of Science Academies. It includes biosecurity resources from around the world.
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Ethics: A Weapon to Counter Bioterrorism
(Web Page on Another Site)
This Policy Forum article by Margaret Somerville and Ronald Atlas was published in Science Magazine in 2005. It proposes an ethical code to provide guidance for "scientists, physicians, scientific institutions, and others engaged in research and development in the life sciences throughout the world."
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Press Statement on the NSABB Review of H5N1 Research
(Web Page on Another Site)
A recent review of research conducted on the H5N1 (bird flu) virus has led to recommendations that the information be filtered in the scientific journals to protect the public health.
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Concerns Are Raised About Genetically Engineered Mosquitoes
(Web Page on Another Site)
This article by Andrew Pollack appeared in the New York Times on October 30th, 2011. It discusses concernes raised with respect to mosqitoes engineered to fight diseases such as dengue fever.
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Lab Fight Raises U.S. Security Issues
(Web Page on Another Site)
This article by New York Times journalist Jennifer Gollan describes a dispute at the Synthetic Biology Engineering Research Center which highlights the potentially dangergous implications of the research.
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Science - Special Issue on Synthetic Biology
(Web Page on Another Site)
In the 2 September 2011 issue, Science highlights how the new field of synthetic biology is contributing to our understanding of biology and harnessing this understanding to benefit humanity.
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Synthetic Biology Points of View
Enter the discussion about synthetic biology. Add your comments to this forum to let us know what you think.
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Workshop Notes on Synthetic Biology and Engineering Ethics
(Web Page on this Site)
This page includes notes from a workshop held at the National Academy of Engineering on September 30th 2010. The workshop posed the question “How can engineering ethics contribute to the positive potential of the new field of synthetic biology?” It brought together synthetic biology researchers and experts in engineering ethics and science and technology studies (STS), to examine how research and educational activities can help to achieve those positive goals.
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Synthetic Biology Project
(Web Page on Another Site)
The Synthetic Biology Project was established as an initiative of the Foresight & Governance Program of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. The Project aims to foster informed public and policy discourse concerning the advancement of synthetic biology. Their website includes numerous resources including news and scholarly articles, and information about upcoming and recent events.
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Synthetic “Life,” Ethics, National Security, and Public Discourse
(Web Page on Another Site)
This article by Mildred K. Cho and David A. Relman appeared in the policy forum of Science Magazine on July 2, 2010. It features some of the concerns about biosecurity and ethics.
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The role of social scientists in synthetic biology
(Web Page on Another Site)
This article by Jane Calvert & Paul Martin appeared in EMBO Reports March of 2009. It examines the various possible roles that social scientists may play in debates about new technologies using the example of synthetic biology
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Lab-scale intervention
(Web Page on Another Site)
This article by Daan Schuurbiers & Erik Fisher appeared in EMBO Reports in May of 2009. It discusses the idea of using the research process itself to address social concerns with new technologies.
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Synthetic Biology Doesn't Require New Rules, Bioethics Panel Says
(Web Page on Another Site)
Article
The President’s Bioethics Commission has issued a new report calling for continued monitoring but no new regulations on synthetic biology. Read more about it in this December 16, 2010 article from ScienceInsider written by Jocelyn Kaiser.