Emerging biotechnologies: full report - Nuffield Council on Bioethics
Emerging biotechnologies: full report - Nuffield Council on Bioethics
Emerging biotechnologies: full report - Nuffield Council on Bioethics
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E m e r g i n g b i o t e c h n o l o g i e s<br />
Biotechnology wager: the idea that in order for more people to enjoy l<strong>on</strong>ger, healthier, richer and<br />
more comfortable lives, it is as if society has – collectively – made a wager <strong>on</strong> the technologies of the<br />
future supplying the means c<strong>on</strong>tinuously to outrun the costs of c<strong>on</strong>sumpti<strong>on</strong> and growth.<br />
Bricolage: a word of French origin meaning the assembly of an artefact or the soluti<strong>on</strong> to a practical<br />
problem using whatever resources are at hand. The term has slightly different meanings across<br />
disciplines. In philosophy, the term is associated in particular with the work of Claude Lévi-Strauss, to<br />
describe a form of thought that arrives at soluti<strong>on</strong>s using multiple, sometimes unrelated, methods and<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cepts. In biology, it occurs in the metaphor of evoluti<strong>on</strong>ary processes as “a tinkerer, engaged in<br />
piecemeal c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong>.” 707<br />
G L O S S A R Y<br />
Chimera: an animal comprised of whole cells from two or more different organisms.<br />
Chlorofluorocarb<strong>on</strong>s (CFCs): compounds c<strong>on</strong>sisting of ethane or methane with some or all of the<br />
hydrogen replaced by fluorine and chlorine. Used as refrigerants but their usage is now depreciated<br />
because they destroy atmospheric oz<strong>on</strong>e and thus c<strong>on</strong>tribute to the greenhouse effect.<br />
Citati<strong>on</strong> impact: academic citati<strong>on</strong>s (references) used as a measure of usage and impact. Can apply<br />
to individuals, organisati<strong>on</strong>s or pieces of work. (See also field weighted citati<strong>on</strong> impact.)<br />
Clinical trial: a way of testing the efficacy of a treatment or a hypothesis related to the cause of a<br />
disease. ‘Phase 1’ trials evaluate safety and dose of a prospective treatment. ‘Phase 2’ trials evaluate<br />
effectiveness. ‘Phase 3’ trials c<strong>on</strong>firm effectiveness and safety in preparati<strong>on</strong> for wide-scale use.<br />
Collingridge dilemma: a problem associated with the English social philosopher David Collingridge<br />
who suggested that attempting to c<strong>on</strong>trol a technology is difficult because during its early stages, when<br />
it can be c<strong>on</strong>trolled, not enough can be known about its harmful social c<strong>on</strong>sequences to warrant<br />
c<strong>on</strong>trolling its development; but by the time these c<strong>on</strong>sequences are apparent, c<strong>on</strong>trol has become<br />
costly and slow.<br />
C<strong>on</strong>sumer surplus: the excess of the benefit a c<strong>on</strong>sumer gains from the purchase of a good over the<br />
amount paid for the good. Can be measured by the by the area below the demand curve but above<br />
the price. (See also producer surplus.)<br />
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA): an agency of the US Department of<br />
Defence tasked with maintaining the technological superiority of the US military and preventing<br />
‘technological surprise’ from harming the nati<strong>on</strong>al security of the US.<br />
DIY biology/‘Do it yourself’ biology): ‘amateur’ individuals or groups undertaking or initiating<br />
biological experiments, processes or activities with little or no professi<strong>on</strong>al or instituti<strong>on</strong>al affiliati<strong>on</strong> or<br />
oversight. Often performed as a hobby.<br />
DNA: deoxyrib<strong>on</strong>ucleic acid; the chemical that carries a pers<strong>on</strong>’s genetic informati<strong>on</strong>. Most cells of a<br />
pers<strong>on</strong>’s body c<strong>on</strong>tain a complete copy of that informati<strong>on</strong>. A DNA molecule c<strong>on</strong>sists of a l<strong>on</strong>g chain of<br />
units called nucleotides or ‘bases’. There are four sorts of nucleotides: guanine, adenine, thymine, and<br />
cytosine.<br />
Dual-use: a term applied to the tangible and intangible features of a technology that enable it to be<br />
applied to both hostile and peaceful ends with no, or <strong>on</strong>ly minor, modificati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
Ethics: a branch of philosophy c<strong>on</strong>cerned with the study of values and moral reas<strong>on</strong>ing, and their<br />
applicati<strong>on</strong> to human c<strong>on</strong>duct.<br />
707 Wilkins AS (2007) Between “design” and “bricolage”: genetic networks, levels of selecti<strong>on</strong>, and adaptive evoluti<strong>on</strong><br />
Proceedings of the Nati<strong>on</strong>al Academy of Science 104: 8590-6.<br />
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