Synthetic biology is a dynamic, young, ambitious, attractive, and heterogeneous scientific discipline. It is constantly developing and changing, which makes societal evaluation of this emerging new science a challenging task, prone to misunderstandings. Synthetic biology is difficult to capture, and confusion arises not only regarding which part of synthetic biology the discussion is about, but also with respect to the underlying concepts in use. This book offers a useful toolbox to approach this complex and fragmented field. It provides a biological access to the discussion using a 'layer' model that describes the connectivity of synthetic or semisynthetic organisms and cells to the realm of natural organisms derived by evolution.Instead of directly reviewing the field as a whole, firstly our book addresses the characteristic features of synthetic biology that are relevant to the societal discussion. Some of these features apply only to parts of synthetic biology, whereas others are relevant to synthetic biology as a whole. In the next step, these new features are evaluated with respect to the different areas of synthetic biology. Do we have the right words and categories to talk about these new features? In the third step, traditional concepts like "life" and "artificiality" are scrutinized with regard to their discriminatory power. This approach may help to differentiate the discussion on synthetic biology. Lastly our refined view is utilized for societal evaluation. We have investigated the public views and attitudes to synthetic biology. It also includes the analysis of ethical, risk and legal questions, posed by present and future practices of synthetic biology.This book contains the results of an interdisciplinary research project and presents the authors' main findings and recommendations. They are addressed to science, industry, politics and the general public interested in this upcoming field of biotechnology.

Upcoming applications of genetic engineering in farm animals include higher yields, leaner meat, or disease resistance. The proceedings cover an analysis of the state of the art of the technology and its applications, an introduction to the specific application zoopharming (a method to produce biopharmaceuticals in transgenic livestock), including an analysis of the market for biopharmaceuticals. In addition an assessment of ethical aspects of livestock biotechnology and considerations regarding animal welfare implications are covered. The study is addressed to science, industry and politics.

A recently established technique termed pharming uses genetically modified plants and animals for the production of biopharmaceuticals. The present interdisciplinary study comprises an extended overview of the state of the art of pharming, as well as in depth analyses of the environmental risks and other ethical and legal issues of pharming. Public attitudes to pharming are investigated on the basis of an original survey in 15 countries worldwide. The study concludes with specific recommendations addressed towards science, industry and politics.

Synthetic biology is a dynamic, young, ambitious, attractive, and heterogeneous scientific discipline. It is constantly developing and changing, which makes societal evaluation of this emerging new science a challenging task, prone to misunderstandings. Synthetic biology is difficult to capture, and confusion arises not only regarding which part of synthetic biology the discussion is about, but also with respect to the underlying concepts in use. This book offers a useful toolbox to approach this complex and fragmented field. It provides a biological access to the discussion using a 'layer' model that describes the connectivity of synthetic or semisynthetic organisms and cells to the realm of natural organisms derived by evolution.Instead of directly reviewing the field as a whole, firstly our book addresses the characteristic features of synthetic biology that are relevant to the societal discussion. Some of these features apply only to parts of synthetic biology, whereas others are relevant to synthetic biology as a whole. In the next step, these new features are evaluated with respect to the different areas of synthetic biology. Do we have the right words and categories to talk about these new features? In the third step, traditional concepts like "life" and "artificiality" are scrutinized with regard to their discriminatory power. This approach may help to differentiate the discussion on synthetic biology. Lastly our refined view is utilized for societal evaluation. We have investigated the public views and attitudes to synthetic biology. It also includes the analysis of ethical, risk and legal questions, posed by present and future practices of synthetic biology.This book contains the results of an interdisciplinary research project and presents the authors' main findings and recommendations. They are addressed to science, industry, politics and the general public interested in this upcoming field of biotechnology.

Upcoming applications of genetic engineering in farm animals include higher yields, leaner meat, or disease resistance. The proceedings cover an analysis of the state of the art of the technology and its applications, an introduction to the specific application zoopharming (a method to produce biopharmaceuticals in transgenic livestock), including an analysis of the market for biopharmaceuticals. In addition an assessment of ethical aspects of livestock biotechnology and considerations regarding animal welfare implications are covered. The study is addressed to science, industry and politics.

A recently established technique termed pharming uses genetically modified plants and animals for the production of biopharmaceuticals. The present interdisciplinary study comprises an extended overview of the state of the art of pharming, as well as in depth analyses of the environmental risks and other ethical and legal issues of pharming. Public attitudes to pharming are investigated on the basis of an original survey in 15 countries worldwide. The study concludes with specific recommendations addressed towards science, industry and politics.

Der Mangel an Spenderorganen in der Transplantationsmedizin ist ein Thema hoher gesellschaftlicher Relevanz. Jedes Jahr sterben in Deutschland 1.000 Patienten, die auf der Warteliste stehen. Die vorliegende Studie ist das Ergebnis einer interdisziplinaren Forschungsarbeit. Sie geht den Ursachen des Organmangels auf den Grund und zeigt Wege zu seiner Behebung auf. Sie richtet sich an Wissenschaft, Betroffene, Medizin, Politik und interessierte OEffentlichkeit. Im Fokus der Untersuchung stehen die Lebendspende und die postmortale Organspende. Entscheidende Faktoren, die das Organaufkommen erhoehen koennten, sind die Beteiligung der Krankenhauser an der Erkennung potenzieller Organspender und die Erlaubnis einer Organentnahme durch Spender oder Angehoerige.