Falling giants and the rise of gene editing: Ethics, private interests and the public good Ruth Chadwick

Benjamin Capps, Ruth Chadwick, Yann Joly, John J. Mulvihill, Tamra Lysaght, Hub Zwart

Résultat de recherche: Articleexamen par les pairs

14 Citations (Scopus)

Résumé

This paper considers the tensions created in genomic research by public and private for-profit ideals. Our intent is to strengthen the public good at a time when doing science is strongly motivated by market possibilities and opportunities. Focusing on the emergence of gene editing, and in particular CRISPR, we consider how commercialisation encourages hype and hope - a sense that only promise and idealism can achieve progress. At this rate, genomic research reinforces structures that promote, above all else, private interests, but that may attenuate conditions for the public good of science. In the first part, we situate genomics using the aphorism that 'on the shoulders of giants we see farther'; these giants are infrastructures and research cultures rather than individual 'heroes' of science. In this respect, private initiatives are not the only pivot for successful discovery, and indeed, fascination in those could impinge upon the fundamental role of public-supported discovery. To redress these circumstances, we define the extent to which progress presupposes research strategies that are for the public good. In the second part, we use a 'falling giant' narrative to illustrate the risks of over-indulging for-profit initiatives. We therefore offer a counterpoint to commercialised science, using three identifiable 'giants' - scientists, publics and cultures - to illustrate how the public good contributes to genomic discovery.

Langue d'origineEnglish
Numéro d'article20
JournalHuman Genomics
Volume11
Numéro de publication1
DOI
Statut de publicationPublished - mars 4 2017

Note bibliographique

Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 The Author(s).

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Molecular Medicine
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Drug Discovery

PubMed: MeSH publication types

  • Journal Article

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