Modern biotechnology, which focuses on molecular biology and its concern to increase human health and life expectancy, revolves around the future. This biotechnological future prevails on a daily basis, awakening the imagination. At the same time, it arouses suspicion or even fear that humanity is acquiring too much power or too few options over human evolution and destiny. The political climate, imbued by a fierce moral approach to science policy, increases this public concern.
It seems that we have lost our capacity for rational discourse in the public arena. The biotech industry has increasingly realized that not only regulatory schemes, but also controversial public and political debate can allow or restrict research and development. For better or worse, science is political.
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