Understanding and Overcoming Fear of the Unnatural in Discussion of GMOs

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert B. Lull ◽  
Dietram A. Scheufele
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Engineering ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Genetic Modification ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Public Debate ◽  
Naturalistic Fallacy ◽  
Responsible Innovation ◽  
Disgust Sensitivity ◽  
Availability Heuristic ◽  
Affect Heuristic

Fear of the unnatural plays an important role when evaluating a powerful technology such as genetic engineering. Several factors contribute to fear of the unnatural, including heuristics and predispositions. This chapter examines the availability heuristic, affect heuristic, and naturalistic fallacy. It also discusses predispositions such as environmentalism, disgust sensitivity, morality, and anxiety and how fear of the unnatural—if inconsistent with the best available scientific evidence—is a problematic basis for public debate regarding genetic modification. Drawing on several case studies in which fear of the unnatural was overcome and public debate shifted from instinctive fear to substantive deliberation about responsible innovation, the chapter suggests that strategies to overcome fear of the unnatural can foster social accountability.

scholarly journals Responsible innovation, anticipation and responsiveness: case studies of algorithms in decision support in justice and security, and an exploration of potential, unintended, undesirable, higher-order effects

AI and Ethics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Steen ◽  
Tjerk Timan ◽  
Ibo van de Poel
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Personal Data ◽  
Higher Order ◽  
Popular Media ◽  
Responsible Innovation ◽  
Order Effects ◽  
Key Dimensions ◽  
Higher Order Effects

AbstractThe collection and use of personal data on citizens in the design and deployment of algorithms in the domain of justice and security is a sensitive topic. Values like fairness, autonomy, privacy, accuracy, transparency and property are at stake. Negative examples of algorithms that propagate or exacerbate biases, inequalities or injustices have received ample attention, both in academia and in popular media. To supplement this view, we will discuss two positive examples of Responsible Innovation (RI): the design and deployment of algorithms in decision support, with good intentions and careful approaches. We then explore potential, unintended, undesirable, higher-order effects of algorithms—effects that may occur despite good intentions and careful approaches. We do that by engaging with anticipation and responsiveness, two key dimensions of Responsible Innovation. We close the paper with proposing a framework and a series of tentative recommendations to promote anticipation and responsiveness in the design and deployment of algorithms in decision support in the domain of justice and security.

Why scientific evidence is no longer enough in public debate

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toby Pilditch
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Public Debate ◽  
Climate Change Denial ◽  
Overwhelming Evidence ◽  
Global Problems

Many of the global problems humanity is facing concern acting appropriately given the available evidence. However, issues including climate change denial (McGlade and Ekins, 2015; Steffen et al., 2015) and anti-vaccination movements (Hargreaves, Lewis, and Speers, 2003; Petrovic, Roberts, and Ramsay, 2001) appear to run contrary to overwhelming evidence. The investigation of these issues has pointed to two possible causes; either insufficient exposure to the evidence at hand, or ulterior / biased motives5. Here I show such explanations are unnecessary, and further, why current counterarguments focussed on scientific evidence may not only be ineffective, but may backfire. I highlight that denialist arguments focusing on credibility-based attacks can provoke rational scepticism of the issue at hand, requiring a shift in counterargument strategy – away from the evidence itself. I show the maximally effective counterargument strategy is to separately and directly address credibility-attacks, salvaging both the immediate issue, and future debate.

China’s “Cancer Villages”: The Social, Political, and Economic Contexts of Pollution

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Lora-Wainwright
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Minor Role ◽  
Social Stability ◽  
High Profile ◽  
Close Analysis ◽  
The Social ◽  
Polluting Firms ◽  
Politically Active

Chapter 2 examines the emergence of China’s “cancer villages”—village-sized clusters of high cancer incidence—and their significance. It overviews how media accounts discursively shaped their social, political and epistemological nature. It develops a typology of cancer villagers based on a close analysis of a selected number of cases examined in recent qualitative research (Chen et al 2013). These relatively high-profile, politically active cases provide a useful background against which to compare the less visibly active case studies examined in later chapters. They illustrate a broader range of activist practices, but they also show that such strategies are often ineffective. Ultimately, these examples suggest that “cancer villages” are not an epidemiologically uncontested label but rather a cultural, social, economic and political phenomenon. Further, they prove that scientific evidence is not the most important element in gaining redress. Rather, it is socio-economic contexts, the persistence of the local population’s complaints and their ability to threaten social stability which largely determines the ways in which polluting firms and the local government may respond. This point is further supported by the book’s three case studies, in which scientific evidence plays a relatively minor role in villagers’ reckonings about environmental health effects and in their demands for redress.

„Gentlemen in, Genuine Knowledge out“? Zum Status wissenschaftlicher Normen für die Erkenntnissicherung

2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lara Huber
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Engineering ◽  
Transgenic Mice ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
History Of Science ◽  
Science And Technology ◽  
Scientific Practices ◽  
History Of ◽  
Genuine Knowledge

ZusammenfassungCase studies in the history of science and technology have shown that scientific norms, so called standards, contribute significantly to the evolution of scientific practices. They arise predominantly, but not exclusively, on the basis of interactions with instruments of measurement and other technical devices. As regards experimental practices standards are mandatory preparatory procedures in a variety of designs, including the inbreeding and genetic engineering of experimental organisms (e.g. transgenic mice). I claim that scientific norms not only regulate mere technical preconditions of research but also guide experimental practices, for example with regard to the stabilisation and validation of phenomena. Against this background, the paper introduces different kinds of scientific norms and elaborates on the question if they are means to epistemic ends (e.g. stability).

Genetic modification and its impact on industry structure and performance: post-harvest deterioration of cassava in Thailand

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Vlaar ◽  
Paul van Beek ◽  
Richard Visser
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Modification ◽  
Genetically Modified ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Seasonal Fluctuation ◽  
Post Harvest ◽  
Processing Plants ◽  
Post Harvest Deterioration ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Starch Industry

Genetic modification has led to fierce debates around the world. Nevertheless, scientific evidence for its potential effects on the structure and performance of industries has hitherto remained rather meagre. In this article, we take some preliminary steps towards closing this gap by exploring the effects of the introduction of a genetically modified cassava variety on the structure and efficiency of the starch industry in Thailand. Currently, producers of cassava starch are confronted with a problem called post-harvest deterioration, which reduces the quantity and quality of starch in cassava roots within 24 to 48 hours after harvesting, leading to lower payments for farmers and lower starch recovery rates for factories. In addition, post-harvest deterioration prohibits factory owners to hold large stocks of fresh cassava. Combined with a strong seasonal fluctuation of supply, this leads to a low utilisation of installed processing capacities at the starch factories. In this article, we examine how the structure and performance of the Thai starch industry would change in case a genetically modified cassava variety would be introduced that no longer suffers from post-harvest deterioration. After having interviewed 19 stakeholders in this industry, we developed two simple linear programming models to examine the optimal locations, capacity classes and utilisation percentages for starch processing plants in the Northeast of Thailand. Our findings demonstrate that an extension of the storability of cassava to 45 days will not only diminish the number of factories needed, but it will also cause most large-sized factories to be replaced with medium-sized plants. Moreover, introducing a new cassava variety with such properties is estimated to render benefits of approximately US $ 35 million for Thai cassava farmers and factory owners.

scholarly journals Attribution of genetic engineering: A practical and accurate machine-learning toolkit for biosecurity

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ethan C. Alley ◽  
Miles Turpin ◽  
Andrew Bo Liu ◽  
Taylor Kulp-McDowall ◽  
Jacob Swett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Neural Networks ◽  
Genetic Engineering ◽  
Recurrent Neural Networks ◽  
International Security ◽  
Responsible Innovation ◽  
Nation State ◽  
Dna Motifs ◽  
Simple Models

AbstractThe promise of biotechnology is tempered by its potential for accidental or deliberate misuse. Reliably identifying telltale signatures characteristic to different genetic designers, termed genetic engineering attribution, would deter misuse, yet is still considered unsolved. Here, we show that recurrent neural networks trained on DNA motifs and basic phenotype can reach 70% attribution accuracy distinguishing between over 1,300 labs. To make these models usable in practice, we introduce a framework for weighing predictions against other investigative evidence using calibration, and bring our model to within 1.6% of perfect calibration. Additionally, we demonstrate that simple models can accurately predict both the nation-state-of-origin and ancestor labs, forming the foundation of an integrated attribution toolkit which should promote responsible innovation and international security alike.

scholarly journals Genetic Modification of Animals: Potential benefits and concerns

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 163-174
Author(s):  
David A. Mbah ◽  
Chi Lawrence Tawah ◽  
Magellan Guewo-Fokeng
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Engineering ◽  
Genetic Modification ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Animal Products ◽  
Targeted Analysis ◽  
Genotype Frequencies ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
And Migration ◽  
La Modification ◽  
Gm Animals

Genetic modification (GM), a process whereby gene and genotype frequencies are changed among individuals of each generation, is driven by  natural and artificial forces. Natural forces include mutation, fitness and migration/introgression, while artificial forces include selection,  crossbreeding and transgenesis/genetic engineering. Genetic modification, driven by natural forces, is essentially adaptive, while modification driven by artificial forces is controlled by human intervention aimed at meeting food, health and other needs. Conventional genetic modification, under sexual reproduction within species, produces both beneficial and negative effects. Modern genetic modification – interspecific exchange of genes using genetic engineering – has beneficial and negative effects as well, which are at varying degrees depending on the species involved. Control/management systems/mechanisms are developed and applied to enable societal benefits while minimizing/preventing negative effects of conventional and modern genetic modification. Targeted analysis of selected nutrients in animal products is made on a case-by-case basis to test substantial equivalence of any compositional changes resulting from genetic modification. Unique identifiers are established to track GM animals and their products in the food chain. Modification génétique, processus par lequel les fréquences des gènes et des génotypes sont changes parmi les individus de chaque génération, est entraînée par des forces naturelles et artificielles. Les forces naturelles incluent la mutation, compétence de mère/père pour se  reproduire/survivre et la migration / introgression. Les forces artificielles comprennent la sélection, le croisement et la transgénèse / génie génétique. La modification génétique entraînée par les forces naturelles est essentiellement adaptative, tandis que celle entraînée par les forces artificielles est contrôlée par une intervention humaine visant à répondre aux besoins alimentaires, sanitaires et autres. La modification génétique conventionnelle, lors de la reproduction sexuelle au sein des espèces, produit des effets à la fois bénéfiques et négatifs. Modification génétique moderne - échange interspécifique de gènes par génie génétique - a également des effets bénéfiques et négatifs mais à des degrés divers selon les espèces impliquées. Des systèmes / mécanismes de contrôle / gestion sont développés et appliqués pour permettre des avantages pour la société tout en minimisant / empêchant les effets négatifs des modifications génétiques conventionnelles et modernes. Une analyse ciblée de nutriments sélectionnés dans les produits d’origine animale est effectuée au cas par cas afin de tester l’équivalence substantielle de tout changement de composition résultant d’une modification génétique. Des identifiants uniques sont établis pour suivre les animaux GM et leurs produits dans la chaîne alimentaire.

scholarly journals Investigación sobre aborto en América Latina y el Caribe. Una agenda renovada para informar políticas públicas e incidencia (resumen ejecutivo) / Research on Abortion in Latin America and the Caribbean. A Renewed Agenda to Inform Public Policy and Advocacy (executive summary)

2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 833 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvina Ramos
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Public Debate ◽  
Executive Summary ◽  
Important Place ◽  
The Status ◽  
Private And Public ◽  
Las Mujeres ◽  
America Latina

El tema del aborto en la región latinoamericana ha venido ocupando un lugar importante y creciente en el quehacer académico, el debate público y, en particular, en las agendas y políticas públicas desde hace más de dos décadas. La excelente y reciente publicación del Consorcio Latinoamericano contra el Aborto Inseguro (clacai), Investigación sobre aborto en América Latina y el Caribe. Una agenda renovada para informar políticas públicas e incidencia, cuyo resumen ejecutivo se presenta a continuación, nos ofrece un conocimiento riguroso y sólido de la evidencia científica de que se dispone en la región sobre este tema en el periodo de 2009 al 2014; con base en éste, nos propone los ejes temáticos prioritarios que deben ser indagados en el futuro inmediato. Sin duda esta publicación representa un insumo altamente valorizado que contribuye a comprender y difundir la situación del aborto en la región, sus causas, las consecuencias y los obstáculos que las mujeres enfrentan en su decisión de interrumpir su embarazo, así como las posturas de los diversos actores sociales que están a favor o en contra de la despenalización del aborto y las acciones que en los ámbitos institucionales, privados y públicos, influyen y participan en este proceso; dichos aspectos también están presentes en el debate público en numerosos países de otras regiones.AbstractThe issue of abortion in Latin America has occupied an increasingly important place in academic work and public debate, particularly in agendas and public policies, for over two decades. The recent excellent publication by the Latin American Consortium against Unsafe Abortion (clacai), Investigación sobre aborto en América Latina y el Caribe. Una agenda renovada para informar políticas públicas e incidencia, whose executive summary is presented below, provides a detailed account of the scientific evidence available in the region on this topic in the period from 2009 to 2014. On the basis of the latter, it proposes thematic priorities that should be investigated in the near future. This publication is an extremely valuable input that contributes to understanding and disseminating the status of abortion in the region, its causes and consequences and the obstacles women face in their decision to terminate their pregnancies. It also details the positions of the various stakeholders for or against the legalization of abortion and actions in the institutional, private and public spheres that influence and participate in this process. These aspects are also present in the public debate in many countries in other regions. 

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