Ethical Debates on Synthetic Biology
Background: As an emerging interdisciplinary area of science with a multitude of potential facilities and applications, synthetic biology integrates different disciplines with one another ranging from basic science to engineering. This interdisciplinary branch therefore encompasses sciences that req...
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Bushehr University of Medical Sciences
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doaj-35ebd0a26c1e4199a2d191037d90543e2020-11-25T01:37:05ZengBushehr University of Medical SciencesIranian South Medical Journal 1735-43741735-69542019-12-01225347363Ethical Debates on Synthetic BiologyAmirreza Bolkheir0Iraj Nabipour1 Otolaryngology Research Center, Department of Otoloaryngology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran The Persian Gulf Marine Biotechnology Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Insti-tute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran>bar<Future Studies Group, The Academy of Medical Sciences of the I.R. Iran Background: As an emerging interdisciplinary area of science with a multitude of potential facilities and applications, synthetic biology integrates different disciplines with one another ranging from basic science to engineering. This interdisciplinary branch therefore encompasses sciences that require specific development and ethical approaches. Materials and Methods: Science management principles were used to design the framework of discrete ethical issues of synthetic biology in terms of the creation, storage, distribution and application of synthetic biology. Results: There is a debate over whether or not the artificial organisms created as living machines deserve ethical considerations. The free storage of knowledge as open libraries about manufacturing the parts, devices and biological systems is another issue. In this respect, technological gap and justice could also be debated. Biosafety and biosecurity are also important in applying synthetic biology, as this science is increasingly facing the community of garage biologists. In biosecurity, creating organisms with dual applications raises ethical issues regarding bioterrorism. Conclusion: The complexity and broad scope of ethical issues regarding the application of synthetic biology products require that distinct ethical principles be developed in collaboration with experts in ethics and law and futurists in discourse with the civil community.http://ismj.bpums.ac.ir/article-1-1177-en.htmlsynthetic biologybiosecuritybiosafetybiological ethicsbioterrorism |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Amirreza Bolkheir Iraj Nabipour |
spellingShingle |
Amirreza Bolkheir Iraj Nabipour Ethical Debates on Synthetic Biology Iranian South Medical Journal synthetic biology biosecurity biosafety biological ethics bioterrorism |
author_facet |
Amirreza Bolkheir Iraj Nabipour |
author_sort |
Amirreza Bolkheir |
title |
Ethical Debates on Synthetic Biology |
title_short |
Ethical Debates on Synthetic Biology |
title_full |
Ethical Debates on Synthetic Biology |
title_fullStr |
Ethical Debates on Synthetic Biology |
title_full_unstemmed |
Ethical Debates on Synthetic Biology |
title_sort |
ethical debates on synthetic biology |
publisher |
Bushehr University of Medical Sciences |
series |
Iranian South Medical Journal |
issn |
1735-4374 1735-6954 |
publishDate |
2019-12-01 |
description |
Background: As an emerging interdisciplinary area of science with a multitude of potential facilities and applications, synthetic biology integrates different disciplines with one another ranging from basic science to engineering. This interdisciplinary branch therefore encompasses sciences that require specific development and ethical approaches.
Materials and Methods: Science management principles were used to design the framework of discrete ethical issues of synthetic biology in terms of the creation, storage, distribution and application of synthetic biology.
Results: There is a debate over whether or not the artificial organisms created as living machines deserve ethical considerations. The free storage of knowledge as open libraries about manufacturing the parts, devices and biological systems is another issue. In this respect, technological gap and justice could also be debated. Biosafety and biosecurity are also important in applying synthetic biology, as this science is increasingly facing the community of garage biologists. In biosecurity, creating organisms with dual applications raises ethical issues regarding bioterrorism.
Conclusion: The complexity and broad scope of ethical issues regarding the application of synthetic biology products require that distinct ethical principles be developed in collaboration with experts in ethics and law and futurists in discourse with the civil community. |
topic |
synthetic biology biosecurity biosafety biological ethics bioterrorism |
url |
http://ismj.bpums.ac.ir/article-1-1177-en.html |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT amirrezabolkheir ethicaldebatesonsyntheticbiology AT irajnabipour ethicaldebatesonsyntheticbiology |
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1725059820151635968 |