1. Governance of dual-use research: an ethical dilemma.
- Author
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Selgelid, Michael J.
- Subjects
- *
LIFE sciences , *RESEARCH ethics , *BIOTECHNOLOGY research , *BIOLOGICAL warfare research , *BIOLOGICAL weapons research , *BIOLOGICAL arms control , *ETHICAL problems , *ETHICS , *GOVERNMENT policy - Abstract
Scenarios where the results of well-intentioned scientific research can be used for both good and harmful purposes give rise to what is now widely known as the "dual-use dilemma". There has been growing debate about the dual-use nature of life science research with implications for making biological weapons. This paper reviews several controversial publications that have been the focus of debates about dual-use life science research and critically examines relevant policy developments, particularly in the United States of America. Though the dual-use dilemma is inherently ethical in nature, the majority of debates about dual-use research have primarily involved science and security experts rather than ethicists. It is important that there is more ethical input into debates about the governance of dual-use research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2009
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