Emerging biotechnologies
Biotechnologies are significant in many aspects of life, from food and energy production to medicine, industry, and economic development.
This report explores the ethical issues and challenges raised by emerging biotechnologies and sets out a ‘public ethics’ approach to help guide improved practice in policy making, research and regulation.
read more »Emerging biotechnologies - Evidence gathering
Public consultation
The consultation on emerging biotechnologies closed on 15 June 2011. The Council would like to thank everyone who contributed to the consultation.
read more »Government and industry should do more to encourage social responsibility in biotechnology research and innovation
The Government and industry should take steps to ensure that research and development of new biotechnologies is carried out in accordance with social and ethical responsibilities, says a new report from the Nuffield Council on Bioethics.
read more »Emerging biotechnologies - Chapter downloads
You can download the individual chapters of this report using the links below. (All files are PDFs and less than 1 MB)
Introduction: a guide for the reader
Chapter 1 - The biotechnology wager
read more »Emerging biotechnologies - Commercialisation
Download a PDF of Chapter 9 - Commercialisation (750KB)
Commercialisation of emerging biotechnologies faces particular challenges due to the long development phase and uncertain outcomes.
Intellectual property
read more »Emerging biotechnologies - Research and innovation policy
Download a PDF of Chapter 7 - Research and innovation policy (762KB)
Research policy for emerging biotechnologies should take account of wider social values and not merely economic benefit.
Framing research policy
read more »Emerging biotechnologies - Research
Download a PDF of Chapter 6 - Research (731KB)
Researchers of emerging biotechnologies are subject to many pressures and influences but are themselves influential in shaping the direction of research.
Influences on researchers
read more »Emerging biotechnologies - Public perspectives
Download a PDF of Chapter 5 - Public perspectives (646KB)
Engagement with non-specialist groups has an important role to play in developing policy for emerging biotechnologies.
read more »Emerging biotechnologies - Public ethics and the governance of emerging biotechnologies
Download a PDF of Chapter 4 - Public ethics and the governance of emerging biotechnologies (689KB)
There is a significant public interest in emerging biotechnologies. Governance should be guided by a ‘public ethics’ approach.
The public interest in emerging biotechnologies arises from a number of potential sources, including:
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their potential to give rise to benefits and harms at a public scale;
