scholarly journals Surpassing our genes: The subversive post-human message of 'Gattaca'

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Klein ◽  
Leah Ceccarelli
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Engineering ◽  
Gene Editing ◽  
Human Gene ◽  
Genetic Discrimination ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Debates ◽  
Human Individual

The movie Gattaca is often referenced in public debates about the societal dangers of human gene editing. In the public imaginary, its message is clear: the dystopian future it portrays stands as a warning against the societal acceptance of genetic perfectionism and genetic discrimination. This article argues that such a reading misses a deeper message of this cinematic text. Rather than offer a bioethics lesson against the use of genetics to make better human babies, in our opinion, the film actually argues that such genetic tampering is unlikely to succeed, but that the genetic engineering of a superior post-human individual is both possible and desirable.

Engaging the Public at a Science Festival

2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 250-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen M. Rose ◽  
Kaine Korzekwa ◽  
Dominique Brossard ◽  
Dietram A. Scheufele ◽  
Laura Heisler
Keyword(s):  
Public Engagement ◽  
Gene Editing ◽  
Human Gene ◽  
The Public ◽  
Scientific Issue ◽  
Public Engagement With Science ◽  
Risk And Benefit ◽  
Science Activities

Theoretically and methodologically sound research on the reach and impact of public engagement practices continues to lag behind. Using the 2015 Wisconsin Science Festival as context, we empirically investigate the impacts of a public engagement activity about a nascent and controversial scientific issue, human gene editing. Overall, we find the panel increased participants’ understanding of the complexities of human gene editing, as demonstrated by increases in knowledge and the moral acceptability of the technology among respondents, as well as the associated risk and benefit perceptions. Practical and theoretical implications for science festivals and public engagement with science activities are discussed.

scholarly journals Is Malaysia Ready for Human Gene Editing: A Regulatory, Biosafety and Biosecurity Perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Kalidasan ◽  
Kumitaa Theva Das
Keyword(s):  
International Organizations ◽  
Gene Editing ◽  
Genetically Modified Organisms ◽  
Modern Technology ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Debates ◽  
Standards And Guidelines ◽  
Modern Biotechnology ◽  
Legal Policies ◽  
Legal Frameworks

Gene editing platforms have revolutionized the field of genetics with a direct impact on the public health system. Although there are apparent benefits, it is often accompanied by public debates over its uncertainties and risks. In the Malaysian context, modern biotechnology has raised questions about how to best govern gene editing in regulations, biosafety, and biosecurity. Even though standards and guidelines on stem cell and cell-based therapies have been developed, there are no appropriate legal frameworks available for gene editing yet. Nevertheless, biosafety regulations were established to balance promoting biotechnology and protecting against their potential environmental and human health risks. There is also a need to address the potential of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) as bioweapons. Numerous frameworks from several international organizations may provide valuable input in formulating documents on gene editing. By establishing comprehensive guidelines, legal policies, and standards to tackle the challenges and risks associated with gene editing, Malaysia can successfully apply this modern technology in this country.

Science fiction authors’ perspectives on human genetic engineering

2021 ◽  
pp. medhum-2020-012041
Author(s):  
Derek So ◽  
Kelsey Crocker ◽  
Robert Sladek ◽  
Yann Joly
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Engineering ◽  
Science Fiction ◽  
Gene Editing ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Human Gene ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Social Divisions ◽  
Safety Risks ◽  
Human Genetic Engineering ◽  
Brave New World

Participants in the human gene editing debate often consider examples from science fiction but have rarely engaged directly with the science fiction community as stakeholders. To understand how science fiction authors develop and spread their views on gene editing, we created an online questionnaire that was answered by 78 authors, including 71 who had previously written about genetic engineering. When asked which ethical issues science fiction should explore, respondents most frequently mentioned affordability, new social divisions, consent and unforeseen safety risks. They rarely advocated exploring psychological effects or religious objections. When asked which works of fiction had influenced their perceptions of gene editing, the most frequent responses were the film Gattaca, the Star Trek franchise and the novels The Island of Doctor Moreau and Brave New World. Unlike other stakeholders, they rarely cited Frankenstein as an influence. This article examines several differences between bioethicists, the general public and science fiction authors, and discusses how this community’s involvement might benefit proponents and opponents of gene editing. It also provides an overview of works mentioned by our respondents that might serve as useful references in the debate.

The Dismal Fate of Flourishing in Public Policy Bioethics

2019 ◽  
pp. 46-58
Author(s):  
John H. Evans
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Gene Editing ◽  
Human Gene ◽  
Human Flourishing ◽  
The Public ◽  
Sociological Explanation

The re-emerging debate about human gene editing appears to be limited to whether gene editing will effectively advance the ends, goals, or values of autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice. As is the case for most of contemporary bioethics, what is not being considered is a substantive debate about what our goals should be in gene editing—that is, the debate is not trying to establish an account of human flourishing. The chapter posits that the public would include many other goals in their moral calculus and discusses why it is important to have this broader discussion. Finally, the chapter turns to a sociological explanation for why this debate is “thin” and not “thick,” why it only asks about whether the means of human gene editing maximize certain fixed ends instead of what our ends—our flourishing—should be.

scholarly journals An Examination of Expert Discourse on Human Gene Editing Using Natural Language Processing

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Micah Musser
Keyword(s):  
Natural Language Processing ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Language Processing ◽  
Gene Editing ◽  
Human Gene ◽  
Global Politics ◽  
The Public ◽  
New Gene ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Key Terms

This research aims to explore the different ways in which scientists, ethicists, journalists, and officialcommissions speak to the public about new gene editing technologies. After building and preprocessingdatasets of writings from each type of author, I examined frequencies of a number of key words, traineda sentiment classifier based on 5,000 hand-labeled sentences, and explored the type of sentiments used todiscuss different issues. Key research questions included the degree of optimism or pessimism expressedby each type of author, the sentiment used in discussions about the global politics of gene editing, and thefrequency with which key terms are used by each category of expert.

scholarly journals Latest Advances of Virology Research Using CRISPR/Cas9-Based Gene-Editing Technology and Its Application to Vaccine Development

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 779
Author(s):  
Man Teng ◽  
Yongxiu Yao ◽  
Venugopal Nair ◽  
Jun Luo
Keyword(s):  
Biological Sciences ◽  
Gene Therapy ◽  
Genetic Engineering ◽  
Gene Function ◽  
Viral Genome ◽  
Gene Editing ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Future Prospects ◽  
Dna Viruses ◽  
Viral Genomes

In recent years, the CRISPR/Cas9-based gene-editing techniques have been well developed and applied widely in several aspects of research in the biological sciences, in many species, including humans, animals, plants, and even in viruses. Modification of the viral genome is crucial for revealing gene function, virus pathogenesis, gene therapy, genetic engineering, and vaccine development. Herein, we have provided a brief review of the different technologies for the modification of the viral genomes. Particularly, we have focused on the recently developed CRISPR/Cas9-based gene-editing system, detailing its origin, functional principles, and touching on its latest achievements in virology research and applications in vaccine development, especially in large DNA viruses of humans and animals. Future prospects of CRISPR/Cas9-based gene-editing technology in virology research, including the potential shortcomings, are also discussed.

scholarly journals Trusting the Corona-Warn-App? Contemplations on trust and trustworthiness at the intersection of technology, politics and public debate

2021 ◽  
pp. 026732312110283
Author(s):  
Judith Simon ◽  
Gernot Rieder
Keyword(s):  
Technology Development ◽  
Public Debate ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Initial Development ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Debates ◽  
Moral Duties ◽  
Moral Demands

Ever since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, questions of whom or what to trust have become paramount. This article examines the public debates surrounding the initial development of the German Corona-Warn-App in 2020 as a case study to analyse such questions at the intersection of trust and trustworthiness in technology development, design and oversight. Providing some insights into the nature and dynamics of trust and trustworthiness, we argue that (a) trust is only desirable and justified if placed well, that is, if directed at those being trustworthy; that (b) trust and trustworthiness come in degrees and have both epistemic and moral components; and that (c) such a normatively demanding understanding of trust excludes technologies as proper objects of trust and requires that trust is directed at socio-technical assemblages consisting of both humans and artefacts. We conclude with some lessons learned from our case study, highlighting the epistemic and moral demands for trustworthy technology development as well as for public debates about such technologies, which ultimately requires attributing epistemic and moral duties to all actors involved.

A Catholic Inclusive Approach to Homosexuality in Nigeria

2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 396-408
Author(s):  
Daniel Ude Asue
Keyword(s):  
Catholic Church ◽  
Social Teaching ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Same Sex Marriage ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Debates ◽  
Inclusive Approach ◽  
Inclusive Society ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Catholic Church

This essay discusses Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Bill in Nigeria, with a focus on the contribution of the Nigerian Catholic Church to the law. Though the Catholic Church in Nigeria did not actively contribute towards the public debates about homosexuality that resulted into the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Bill it nevertheless welcomed the bill. However, the official teachings of the Catholic Church and elucidations from the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria could potentially contribute to creating an inclusive society. In what way can we potentially utilize the principles of Catholic Social Teaching to make room for an inclusion of homosexual persons in the life of the church and in society?

Jainism in Danger? Temple entry and the rhetoric of religion and reform in post-colonial India

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-37
Author(s):  
MANISHA SETHI
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
The State ◽  
The Other ◽  
Post Colonial ◽  
Colonial India ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Debates ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Open The Doors ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract A bitter debate broke out in the Digambar Jain community in the middle of the twentieth century following the passage of the Bombay Harijan Temple Entry Act in 1947, which continued until well after the promulgation of the Untouchability (Offences) Act 1955. These laws included Jains in the definition of ‘Hindu’, and thus threw open the doors of Jain temples to formerly Untouchable castes. In the eyes of its Jain opponents, this was a frontal and terrible assault on the integrity and sanctity of the Jain dharma. Those who called themselves reformists, on the other hand, insisted on the closeness between Jainism and Hinduism. Temple entry laws and the public debates over caste became occasions for the Jains not only to examine their distance—or closeness—to Hinduism, but also the relationship between their community and the state, which came to be imagined as predominantly Hindu. This article, by focusing on the Jains and this forgotten episode, hopes to illuminate the civilizational categories underlying state practices and the fraught relationship between nationalism and minorities.

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