From the mid 1990s to the present day, agricultural biotechnology - GM crops and foods - has been the focus of debate and conflict in many European countries. Contrasting views of risks and benefits, trust in science and regulation, the understanding of science, media coverage and mobilization of the public by civil society groups - all have been cited as drivers of public opinion. Designed in part to allay public concerns about GM agriculture, a European moratorium led to a new regulatory framework. The long running controversy is a signal that the public's view cannot be ignored in the development and implementation of new technologies arising out of genomics. Yet, agricultural biotechnologies are but one development in this area. Genetic testing and the uses of genetic information, the cloning of human cells and tissues, and transgenic animals are potentially no less challenging for the public and regulators alike. This volume, by an international group of social scientists from Europe, North America and Japan, presents a series of comparative perspectives on the social, ethical and legal implications of genomics. The aim is to capture lessons from the controversies of the 1990s and to raise the level of debate on the societal implications of new developments in genomics.

From two of the world’s leading authorities on dogs, an imaginative journey into a future of dogs without people What would happen to dogs if humans simply disappeared? Would dogs be able to survive on their own without us? A Dog’s World imagines a posthuman future for dogs, revealing how dogs would survive—and possibly even thrive—and explaining how this new and revolutionary perspective can guide how we interact with dogs now. Drawing on biology, ecology, and the latest findings on the lives and behavior of dogs and their wild relatives, Jessica Pierce and Marc Bekoff—two of today’s most innovative thinkers about dogs—explore who dogs might become without direct human intervention into breeding, arranged playdates at the dog park, regular feedings, and veterinary care. Pierce and Bekoff show how dogs are quick learners who are highly adaptable and opportunistic, and they offer compelling evidence that dogs already do survive on their own—and could do so in a world without us. Challenging the notion that dogs would be helpless without their human counterparts, A Dog’s World enables us to understand these independent and remarkably intelligent animals on their own terms.

Bioethics is a field of inquiry and as such is fundamentally an epistemic discipline. Knowing how we make moral judgments can bring into relief why certain arguments on various bioethical issues appear plausible to one side and obviously false to the other. Uncertain Bioethics makes a significant and distinctive contribution to the bioethics literature by culling the insights from contemporary moral psychology to highlight the epistemic pitfalls and distorting influences on our apprehension of value. Stephen Napier also incorporates research from epistemology addressing pragmatic encroachment and the significance of peer disagreement to justify what he refers to as epistemic diffidence when one is considering harming or killing human beings. Napier extends these developments to the traditional bioethical notion of dignity and argues that beliefs subject to epistemic diffidence should not be acted upon. He proceeds to apply this framework to traditional and developing issues in bioethics including abortion, stem cell research, euthanasia, decision-making for patients in a minimally conscious state, and risky research on competent human subjects.

This title was first published in 2002: This volume discusses the subject of biomedical ethics. Various views, historical and contemporary, are discussed, with the editors using the contrasting concepts in the shift from paternalism to autonomy in 20th-century medicine as a heuristic tool for the critical study of ethics in medicine.As far as the evidence in this volume goes, paternalistic medical practices and patient autonomy had an uneasy relationship by the beginning of the 20th century. A hundred years later, full autonomy in decisions on medical treatment is still subject to numerous caveats. The text pays close attention to the interplay between various players, noting how factors such as social contexts, governmental organizations and the biotechnological industry influence and shape responses to the principle of bioethics.

Why have GM Foods become so controversial? Comparing GM food politics in the US, Britain, and the European Union, Toke draws on insights from discourse analysis to help explain this basic political struggle of our time. By stressing the interplay between the material and discursive dimensions involved in the shaping of the conflict, the work offers a detailed account that enriches our political understanding of these 'Frankenfoods' on a variety of fronts, in particular the interplay between scientific expertise and citizens politics. Those interested in the 'risk society', both students and specialists, will find much to learn from this perceptive analysis. compares and explains how differing political outcomes have occurred regarding GM food and crops in the UK, USA and the EU, thus throwing light on the relationship between science and politics. Dave Toke uses a discourse approach to analyse the varying regulatory and political approaches, developing a unique framework to describe how different countries have distinctive relationships between scientific assessments of GM food and crops and dominant cultural attitudes. This innovative volume will interest students and researchers of environmental science and politics.

Contents:
Chapter 1: Introduction
1. The Approach
2. National Innovation Systems and Biotechnology
3. The Market for Biotechnology
4. Products
5. A Road Map
6. References
Chapter 2: Firms, Technological Regimes, and National Innovation Systems
1. Introduction
2. The Firm as Innovator
3. Technological Regimes and Trajectories
4. Biotechnology and the National Innovation System
5. Putting it all Together
6. References
Chapter 3: Biotechnology and National Innovation Systems in the US and Japan
1. Industry
2. Research Infrastructure
3. Public Policy
4. Conclusions
5. References
Chapter 4: The Emergence of Commercial Biotechnology in the US
1. Introduction
2. Institutional Formation and Knowledge Creation
3. Knowledge Enhancement (1976-1983)
4. Commercial Take-Off (1983-1900s)
5. Conclusions
6. References
Chapter 5: The Emergence of Commercial Biotechnology
1. Introduction
2. The Origins of Japan's Bioindustry
3. Biotechnology Fever hits Japan
4. From Bio-Boom to Bio-Reality: Alliances Strategies and the Shift from Basic Research (1985-Present)
5. Conclusions
6. Endnotes
Chapter 6: Conclusions
1. Summary
2. Biotechnology in the US and Japan
3. Concluding Thoughts
References

Over the past few years there has been a proliferation of genetic databases and biobanks, which promise to increase scientists' understandings of the way our genes interact with the environment. These biomedical research projects involve hundreds of thousands of people worldwide who are asked to donate blood and tissue samples as well as personal information. The control, exploitation and ownership of such detailed personal medical information by governments and by commercial companies is generating social and ethical controversy. Genetic Databases offers a timely analysis of the underlying tensions, contradictions and limitations of the current regulatory frameworks for and policy debates about genetic databases. Drawing on original empirical research and theoretical debates in the fields of sociology, anthropology and legal studies, the contributors to this book challenge the prevailing orthodoxy of informed consent and explore the relationship between personal privacy and the public good. They also consider the multiple meanings attached to human tissue and the role of public consultations and commercial involvement in the creation and use of genetic databases. The authors argue

Over the past few years there has been a proliferation of genetic databases and biobanks, which promise to increase scientists' understandings of the way our genes interact with the environment. These biomedical research projects involve hundreds of thousands of people worldwide who are asked to donate blood and tissue samples as well as personal information. The control, exploitation and ownership of such detailed personal medical information by governments and by commercial companies is generating social and ethical controversy. contradictions and limitations of the current regulatory frameworks for and policy debates about genetic databases. Drawing on original empirical research and theoretical debates in the fields of sociology, anthropology and legal studies, the contributors to this book challenge the prevailing orthodoxy of informed consent and explore the relationship between personal privacy and the public good. They also consider the multiple meanings attached to human tissue and the role of public consultations and commercial involvement in the creation and use of genetic databases. representation of participation that is often at odds with the experiences and understandings of those taking part. The findings present a serious challenge for public policy to provide mechanisms to safeguard the welfare of individuals participating in genetic databases. The book is written in an accessible style that will appeal to a multidisciplinary and international audience, and is relevant to policy discussions in Europe and in North America, as well as other countries that are developing similar initiatives. It will be of great interest to academics and students of medical sociology, health studies, public health, public policy and ethics.

Young people are increasingly being exposed to the huge and complex ethical dilemmas involved in issues such as genetic modification, animal rights and cloning, and they are bringing their views into the classroom. But how can teachers be sure they are sufficiently well-informed to help their pupils make sense of the diverse and emotive arguments surrounding these issues?

This book may hold the answer. Written by leading ethicists, scientists and technologists, it offers a balanced and jargon-free guide to such highly debated topics as:

* Cloning

* In vitro fertilisation

*Genetic screening and genetic engineering

*Farm animal welfare

* The use of animals in medical experiments

Written specifically for the non-specialist teacher or lecturer, this book also contains suggestions on how to approach the teaching of bioethics and provides useful sources of further information. It may also be of interest to undergraduates on science courses.

Since the original publication of Playing God? in 1996, three developments in genetic technology have moved to the center of public discussion about the ethics of bioengineering. Cloning, the completion of the human genome project, and the controversy over stem cell research have all sparked lively debates among religious thinkers and the makers of public policy. In this updated edition, Ted Peters illuminates key issues in these debates and makes deft connections between our questions about God and our efforts to manage technological innovations.

Published in 2004, this collection will encourage and foster informed discussion of key issues as society comes to grips with the implications of genetic engineering, the mapping and sequencing of the human genome, and the advent of the post-genomic era. The contributors are prominent social scientists, health specialists, journalists, bioethicists and commercial representatives from the UK, Finland, Germany, Holland and Norway who are at the leading edge of current research. the book will therefore appeal to the interested public, health and other professionals, teachers and students. This book was originally published as part of the Cardiff Papers in Qualitative Research series edited by Paul Atkinson, Sara Delamont and Amanda Coffey. The series publishes original sociological research that reflects the tradition of qualitative and ethnographic inquiry developed at Cardiff. The series includes monographs reporting on empirical research, edited collections focussing on particular themes, and texts discussing methodological developments and issues.

The Routledge Companion to Bioethics is a comprehensive reference guide to a wide range of contemporary concerns in bioethics. The volume orients the reader in a changing landscape shaped by globalization, health disparities, and rapidly advancing technologies. Bioethics has begun a turn toward a systematic concern with social justice, population health, and public policy. While also covering more traditional topics, this volume fully captures this recent shift and foreshadows the resulting developments in bioethics. It highlights emerging issues such as climate change, transgender, and medical tourism, and re-examines enduring topics, such as autonomy, end-of-life care, and resource allocation.

Series Information:
Reflective Bioethics

The world's food production is undergoing a rapid and revolutionary transformation, but little is known about it and less is being done to question the wisdom of it. Within a very few years, much of what we eat will have been genetically engineered, without proper consideration of the issues of public health, consumer choice and ecological stability. Against the Grain argues that the consequences of this huge experiment could be catastrophic, and at the very least have been underestimated or ignored by the industries exploiting the new technologies. The authors have unearthed government and industry documents which show these new methods to be far from fail-safe or risk free. Comprehensively supported with facts and references, the book provides a full account of the science and technologies involved in producing 'transgenic plants'. It also explains the scale and speed of what is going on, and argues for full public accountability and control of new developments - before it is too late.

Drawing on the work of Ludwig Wittgenstein and novelists such as Walker Percy, Paul Auster and Graham Greene, "A Philosophical Disease" brings to the bioethical discussion larger philosophical questions about the sense and significance of human life.
Carl Elliott moves beyond the standard menu of bioethical issues to explore the relationship of illness to identity, and of mental illness to spiritual illness. He also examines the treatment of children born with ambiguous genitalia, the claims of Deaf culture, and the morality of self-sacrifice. This book focuses on a different sensibility in bioethics; how we use concepts, and how they relate to our own particular social institutions.

A Philosophical Disease extends the bondaries of bioethics discourse both in terms f philosophical argumentation and in the range of clinical material that informs the work. The book contains a series of essays, some previouslypublished, some not. A series of unifying themes run through the chapters, linking together the diverse studies into a connected whole. Elliot cobers such topics as deaf culture. hermaphrodites, personality disorders, and heart transplants. Elliot often turns to literature as a source of explication, examing work by Paul Auster, H.G.Wells, Graham Green and others.

Few issues have aroused so much public attention and controversy as recent developments in biotechnology. How can we make sound judgements of the cloning of Dolly the sheep, genetically altered foodstuffs, or the prospect of transplanting pigs' hearts into humans? Are we 'playing God' with nature? What is driving these developments, and how can they be made more accountable to the public? Engineering Genesis provides a uniquely informed, balanced and varied insight into these and many other key issues from a working group of distinguished experts - in genetics, agriculture, animal welfare, ethics, theology, sociology and risk - brought together by the Society, Religion and Technology Project of the Church of Scotland. A number of case studies present all the main innovations: animal cloning, pharmaceutical production from animals, cross-species transplants, and, genetically modified foods. From these the authors develop a careful analysis of the ethical and social implications - offering contrasting perspectives and insightful arguments which, above all, will enable readers to form their own judgements on these vital questions.

Few issues have aroused so much public attention and controversy as recent developments in biotechnology. How can we make sound judgements of the cloning of Dolly the sheep, genetically altered foodstuffs, or the prospect of transplanting pigs' hearts into humans? Are we 'playing God' with nature? What is driving these developments, and how can they be made more accountable to the public? Engineering Genesis provides a uniquely informed, balanced and varied insight into these and many other key issues from a working group of distinguished experts - in genetics, agriculture, animal welfare, ethics, theology, sociology and risk - brought together by the Society, Religion and Technology Project of the Church of Scotland. A number of case studies present all the main innovations: animal cloning, pharmaceutical production from animals, cross-species transplants, and, genetically modified foods. From these the authors develop a careful analysis of the ethical and social implications - offering contrasting perspectives and insightful arguments which, above all, will enable readers to form their own judgements on these vital questions.

Narratives have always played a prominent role in both bioethics and medicine; the fields have attracted much storytelling, ranging from great literature to humbler stories of sickness and personal histories. And all bioethicists work with cases--from court cases that shape policy matters to case studies that chronicle sickness. But how useful are these various narratives for sorting out moral matters? What kind of ethical work can stories do--and what are the limits to this work? The new essays in "Stories and Their Limits" offer insightful reflections on the relationship between narratives and ethics.

Series Information:
Reflective Bioethics

This book examines the question of what parental obligations procreators incur by bringing children into being. Prusak argues that parents, as procreators, have obligations regarding future children that constrain the liberty of would-be parents to do as they wish. Moreover, these obligations go beyond simply respecting a child's rights. He addresses in turn the ethics of adoption, child support, gamete donation, surrogacy, prenatal genetic enhancement, and public responsibility for children.

What will it mean for society if science enables us to choose a future child whose health, athletic ability or intelligence is predetermined? This future is becoming ever more likely with the latest developments in human reproduction -- but concerns are growing about the implications. New procedures making possible heritable genetic modifications such as genome editing open the door to 'sanitized' selective eugenics; but these practices have some unnerving similarities to the discredited eugenic programmes of early twentieth-century regimes. A Christian perspective based on Scripture gives us the resources we urgently need to evaluate both current and future selection practices. Calum MacKellar offers an accessible, inter-disciplinary analysis, blending science, history and Christian theology. This book will enable you to become fully informed about the new scientific developments in human reproduction - developments that will affect us all.

The essays collected in this volume provide students of ethics with essential tools for making sense of emerging biotechnical capacities and the turbulent power relations these capacities are bringing into the world. Unlike previous reference works in bioethics, which focus on specific domains of human activity (such as genetic research or biomedicine), this volume directs students' attention to the underlying cultural and institutional forces that shape how biotechnologists approach the world, and teaches students how to weigh the ethical significance of these forces. This innovative approach to the ethics of biotechnology, detailed in the volume's introduction, equips students to track the dynamic interplay of biology, digital technology and the high-tech economy which is remaking the living world today and the human relation to it.

This volume brings together a unique collection of legal, religious, ethical, and political perspectives to bear on debates concerning biotechnology patents, or 'patents on life'. The ever-increasing importance of biotechnologies has generated continual questions about how intellectual property law should treat such technologies, especially those raising ethical or social-justice concerns. Even after many years and court decisions, important contested issues remain concerning ownership of and rewards from biotechnology - from human genetic material to genetically engineered plants - and regarding the scope of moral or social-justice limitations on patents or licensing practices. This book explores a range of related issues, including questions concerning morality and patentability, biotechnology and human dignity, and what constitute fair rewards from genetic resources. It features high-level international, interfaith, and cross-disciplinary contributions from experts in law, religion, and ethics, including academics and practitioners, placing religious and secular perspectives into dialogue to examine the full implications of patenting life.

From two of the world's leading authorities on dogs, an imaginative journey into a future of dogs without people What would happen to dogs if humans simply disappeared? Would dogs be able to survive on their own without us? A Dog's World imagines a posthuman future for dogs, revealing how dogs would survive-and possibly even thrive-and explaining how this new and revolutionary perspective can guide how we interact with dogs now. Drawing on biology, ecology, and the latest findings on the lives and behavior of dogs and their wild relatives, Jessica Pierce and Marc Bekoff-two of today's most innovative thinkers about dogs-explore who dogs might become without direct human intervention into breeding, arranged playdates at the dog park, regular feedings, and veterinary care. Pierce and Bekoff show how dogs are quick learners who are highly adaptable and opportunistic, and they offer compelling evidence that dogs already do survive on their own-and could do so in a world without us. Challenging the notion that dogs would be helpless without their human counterparts, A Dog's World enables us to understand these independent and remarkably intelligent animals on their own terms.