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By Category: Biotechnology

The Societal Impacts of Synthetic Biology

(Synthetic Biology Project) A new online survey seeks public opinion about the most pressing ethical, legal, and social implications of synthetic biology. The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars is soliciting public opinion on the most critical ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) for synthetic biology in a new online survey, which will provide guidance Read More »

March 15, 2012
| Filed under Europe, North America, Biotechnology, International, Policy & Initiatives, and Research
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111 Organizations Call for Synthetic Biology Moratorium

(Science AAAS) Synthetic biology needs more oversight, and the government needs to put in place regulations specific for this field. That is the bottom line for 111 environmental, watchdog, and other organizations that released a report today with specific recommendations for managing new biological techniques for building and remaking organisms for research and commercial uses Read More »

March 14, 2012
| Filed under North America, Biosafety, Biotechnology, Policy & Initiatives, and Research
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Cost of Gene Sequencing Falls, Raising Hopes for Medical Advances

(The New York Times) The promise is that low-cost gene sequencing will lead to a new era of personalized medicine, yielding new approaches for treating cancers and other serious diseases. The arrival of such cures has been glacial, however, although the human genome was originally sequenced more than a decade ago.

March 9, 2012
| Filed under North America, Biotechnology, Countermeasures, Public Health, and Research
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US Biosecurity Board to Reconsider Revised H5N1 Flu Papers

(Science Now) The US government will ask a government biosecurity advisory board to conduct a new review of revised versions of two controversial H5N1 flu research manuscripts. The review could open the way …

March 1, 2012
| Filed under Europe, North America, Biological Weapons, and Biotechnology
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How Do You Stop a Synthetic-Biology Disaster?

(Synthetic Biology Project) WASHINGTON – Experts say at least $20 million to $30 million in government research is needed over the next decade to adequately identify and address the possible ecological risks of synthetic biology, an emerging area of research focused on the design and construction of new biological parts and systems, or modification of Read More »