What Can Nanotechnology Learn From Biotechnology? (eBook)

Cover 1
Contents 6
Acknowledgments 12
Preface 14
About the Authors 16
Part 1 Analytic Introduction 20
Chapter 1 Socio-Technical Analysis of those Concerned with Emerging Technology, Engagement, and Governance 22
In a nutshell: our audiences and our core objective 23
Nano-benefits, nano-issues, nano-fears, and reactions 24
Objectives of this volume 35
Contending perspectives 37
Roadmap to this volume 40
Conclusion 44
Endnotes 47
References 48
Internet references 49
Part 2 Looking Back to the Bio Debate 50
Chapter 2 Learning from Mistakes: Missteps in Public Acceptance Issues with GMOs 52
Introduction 53
Problems with terminology 54
What is genetic modification/genetic engineering/biotechnology? 55
History of biotechnology 55
How is biotechnology (rDNA) used? 57
Applications of biotechnology 57
Red and green biotechnology 58
Biotechnology has been compared to a train 60
Risks: real and perceived 61
Distinguishing perspectives 64
Conclusion 70
References 72
Chapter 3 The Ethics of Agri-Food Biotechnology: How Can an Agricultural Technology be so Important? 74
Introduction 75
The environmental ethics of agbiotech 77
The safety of GM foods 81
Ethics and choice 83
Ethics and control 88
Conclusion: whither nanotechnology ethics? 93
References 96
Internet references 98
Chapter 4 A View from the Advocacy Community 100
Introduction 100
Basics of the biotechnology debate 101
Continuing controversy for agricultural and food applications 102
Classifying nanotechnology risks 103
Consequences if nanochemicals present special risks 104
Three lessons 105
Part 3 Questioning the Analogy (From Bio to Nano) 108
Chapter 5 The Three Teachings of Biotechnology 110
Introduction 110
What are we talking about? 112
If you do not agree with me you must be stupid! 115
A one-sided dialogue 117
Conclusions 120
Endnotes 121
References 122
Internet references 123
Chapter 6 From Bio to Nano: Learning the Lessons, Interrogating the Comparisons 126
Introduction 126
Learning from the past 127
Learning from the present 133
Lessons for nanotechnologies 138
Endnotes 139
References 140
Chapter 7 Nano and Bio: How are they Alike? How are they Different? 144
Why nanotechnology may not be much like biotechnology 146
Hypothesis 1: food technologies are sensitive 149
Hypothesis 2: the naturalness thing 151
Hypothesis 3: playing God 153
Hypothesis 4: environmental release 154
Hypothesis 5: public educational efforts are inoculating nanotechnology against public opposition 156
Hypothesis 6: agrifood biotechnology was narrow, nanotechnology is broad 157
Hypothesis 7: no benefit to consumers 160
Hypothesis 8: lack of confidence in the regulatory system 162
Hypothesis 9: intellectual property rights 165
Hypothesis 10: changing relations of economic power 167
Analysis 169
References 171
Internet references 174
Chapter 8 "It's Like Déjà-Vu, All Over Again": Anticipating Societal Responses to Nanotechnologies 176
Introduction 177
How many more times will we be "surprised" by societal responses? 178
Why is the same technology sometimes accepted and sometimes rejected in apparently similar circumstances? 179
To what extent can we accurately anticipate societal responses and acceptability? 180
How can, or should, society make better-informed decisions? 180
Agricultural nanotechnologies„members of a class of technologies 181
Patterns of societal response can be anticipated 183
Suggesting a conceptual framework: PACT 184
Conclusion: a call for a convergent science of societal response 189
Endnotes 189
References 190
Internet references 191
Part 4 Areas of Ambiguity in Implementing an Emerging Technology 192
Chapter 9 A Framework for Translating Biotechnology Experiences to Nanotechnology 194
New technologies from discovery to market 195
From science to technology 196
Radical technologies and innovation 198
Innovation and agricultural biotechnology 199
New technologies and industry structure 202
Endnotes 206
References 206
Chapter 10 Engagement and Translation: Perspective of a Natural Scientist 208
Focus 211
Engagement 213
Translation issues 222
Discussion 236
Endnotes 237
References 237
Internet references 238
Chapter 11 Biotechnology, Nanotechnology, Media, and Public Opinion 240
Introduction 240
Problematizing the categories 242
Media and public opinion 244
Social constructions of "the public" 247
Discussion 250
Endnotes 251
References 252
Part 5 Looking Forward to the Nano Situation 254
Chapter 12 Lessons from the Bio-Decade: A Social Scientific Perspective 256
Introduction 256
Understanding the process of innovation 258
Questioning sound science 261
Perspectives on risk 264
Menacing images and magical thinking 267
Uncertainty and anxiety 268
Weighing up gains and losses 269
Truth claims and communicating science 272
Changing science, changing societies 275
Implications for nanotechnology 276
References 276
Chapter 13 What Can Nanotechnology Learn from Biotechnology? 280
Introduction 280
Scientific innovation 282
The process of innovation of new products in biotechnology 284
Processes of variable regulation of biotechnology 285
Furor over bovine growth hormone 286
The major actors 287
Recent developments 291
Conclusions: lessons identified 292
Endnotes 293
References 293
Internet references 295
Appendix I: A Primer on Genetic Engineering 296
Appendix II: Report from the Standards for Nanotechnology Workshop 304
Appendix III: List of Abbreviations 340
Appendix IV: Participants at First International IFAS Conference on Nanotechnology "What Can Nano Learn from Bio?" 342
Appendix V: Participants in the "Standards for Nanotechnology" Workshop, 2006 346
Index 349
A 349
B 349
C 350
D 351
E 351
F 352
G 352
H 352
I 353
J 353
K 353
L 353
M 353
N 354
O 355
P 355
Q 356
R 356
S 356
T 357
U 358
V 358
W 358
Z 358
Series 359