Civil Society

Civil society typically refers to nonprofit advocacy organizations, sometimes called nongovernmental organizations or NGOs, that are institutional political actors outside of government and private enterprises. For many important social issues, there are dense networks of civil society institutions. Civil society focus on the social issues surrounding human biotechnologies is increasingly important as the speed of technological development continues to accelerate. In general, civil society organizations play an important role in holding governments accountable, countering the power of corporations, and contributing to democratic governance.

Is the World Ready for Synthetic People?

By David Ewing Duncan, Neo.life | 04.05.2018

Aggregated News

Drew Endy almost can’t talk fast enough to convey everything he has to say. It’s a wonderfully complex message filled with nuance, a kind of intricate puzzle box being built by a pioneer of synthetic biology who wants to fundamentally...

Public Opinion

Gattaca at 20: Looking Back, Looking Ahead…

By Katie Hasson | 04.02.2018

Biopolitical Times

Twenty years after its release, the film Gattaca remains an enduring touchstone for discussions of human genetic technologies. Starring Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, and Jude Law, Gattaca presents a dystopian vision of the “not-too-distant future,” in which society is divided into genetic “haves” and “have-nots.” The “Valids,” conceived through IVF and selected for supposedly “superior” genetic profiles, monopolize high status careers and positions in society; the “In-Valids,” conceived without technology, are discriminated against and excluded, presumed to be “inferior” because...

Human Genetic Modification