Abstract
The public debate on recombinant DNA research has ended even though significant issues of public interest remain undecided or untouched. The reason for the termination of other than muted public discussion is not simply the removal of an initial fear of catastrophic biohazards. With the cessation of public debate over such hazards came also the dissolution of most public forums. The ends to which recombinant DNA research and development ought to be directed are not matters of public debate. With the transfer of basic research knowledge to the private sector, that sector's proprietary interests and ownership prerogatives effectively deny any continued public participation in charting the future of genesplicing technology and its application.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Work done in preparation for this paper was carried out at The Salk Institute and was supported in part by a National Science Foundation Faculty Fellow in Science award, and in part by a grant to Dr. Jonas Salk from The Equitable Life Assurance Society of America.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Flower, M.J. Taking DNA to market and regulatory default. Bioethics Quarterly 3, 112–127 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00922549
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00922549