Synthetic biology is a rapidly evolving field which potentially can change how we live in and understand the world. Given its potential impact it is important to inform and involve the public so that it gains a proper understanding of synthetic biology and is in a position to assess its future applications and implications. This study investigates through qualitative content analysis the synthetic biology press coverage in Sweden and Italy between 2009 and 2013. The three major newspapers of each country were considered a good example of what was offered to the public in a period which witnessed important scientific advancements of the field and consequent media resonance. The framing of the articles was analyzed in the light of the idea that mass media not only inform the public but also contribute to the shaping of ideas. Language was analysed and found to be generally adequate. The topics were presented in an overall positive and optimistic tone, which was reflected also in the benefits and risks envisioned. The two countries can be considered rather different in many social and cultural respects, yet besides a few differences (mainly quantitative), striking similarities were found, probably related to a marked dependence on the common sources of the articles and the lack of critical scrutiny on the behalf of the media.

Background

High consumption of antibiotics has been identified as an important driver for the increasing antibiotic resistance, considered to be one of the greatest threats to public health globally. Simply informing the public about this consequence is insufficient to induce behavioral change. This study explored beliefs and perceptions among Swedes, with the aim of identifying factors promoting and hindering a judicious approach to antibiotics use. The study focused primarily on the medical use of antibiotics, also considering other aspects connected with antibiotic resistance, such as travelling and food consumption.

Methods

Data were collected through focus group discussions at the end of 2016. Twenty-three Swedes were recruited using an area-based approach and purposive sampling, aiming for as heterogeneous groups as possible regarding gender (13 women, 10 men), age (range 20–81, mean 38), and education level. Interview transcripts were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The Health Belief Model was used as a theoretical framework.

Results

Antibiotic resistance was identified by participants as a health threat with the potential for terrible consequences. The severity of the problem was perceived more strongly than the actual likelihood of being affected by it. Metaphors such as climate change were abundantly employed to describe antibiotic resistance as a slowly emerging problem. There was a tension between individual (egoistic) and collective (altruistic) reasons for engaging in judicious behavior. The individual effort needed and antibiotics overprescribing were considered major barriers to such behavior. In their discussions, participants stressed the need for empowerment, achieved through good health communication from authorities and family physicians.

Conclusions

Knowledge about antibiotic consumption and resistance, as well as values such as altruism and trust in the health care system, has significant influence on both perceptions of individual responsibility and on behavior. This suggests that these factors should be emphasized in health education and health promotion. To instead frame antibiotic resistance as a slowly emerging disaster, risks diminish the public perception of being susceptible to it.

Synthetic biology will probably have a high impact on a variety of fields, such as healthcare, environment, biofuels, agriculture, and so on. A driving theme in European research policy is the importance of maintaining public legitimacy and support. Media can influence public attitudes and are therefore an important object of study. Through qualitative content analysis, this study investigates the press coverage of synthetic biology in the major Nordic countries between 2009 and 2014. The press coverage was found to be event-driven and there were striking similarities between countries when it comes to framing, language use, and treated themes. Reporters showed a marked dependence on their sources, mainly scientists and stakeholders, who thus drives the media agenda. The media portrayal was very positive, with an optimistic look at future benefits and very little discussion of possible risks.

The management of commons is now at the centre of researchers' attention in many branches of science, particularly those related to the human or social sciences. This paper seeks to demonstrate how civil society participation in common goods or resources is not only possible but is also desirable for society because of the medium and long-term benefits it offers involved and/or affected parties. To this end, we examine the falsity of the discourse underlying the supposed incompetence of civil society to cooperate interpersonally in the pursuit of common objectives, and also analyse a specific example of the necessary and possible participation of civil society in managing common goods through biobanks.

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Moralfilosofin har av hävd styrts av föreställningen om förnuftets primat. Men i en ny antologi beskrivs det moraliska tänkandet snarare som något djupt mänskligt, något som snarare fostras av fantasin än förnuftet.

This study evaluates Wittgenstein's impact on the philosophy of religion. The aim of the study is to clarify what it means to say that the method suggested by Wittgenstein in his seminal work Philosophical Investigations makes possible a study of religion which is not reductionistic, but rather is adequate concerning religious phenomena.

The dissertation starts with an examination of Wittgenstein's method. In particular it tries to clarify the nature of philosophical study as it comes to expression in Wittgenstein's writings. In chapter three Wittgenstein's remarks on religion are surveyed. in them Wittgenstein shows that many difficulties thought to face religion are a result of the neglect of philosophers to attend to the logic of religious expressions.

In chapters four and five the strategies of argument displayed in Wittgensteinian philosophy of religion are critically discussed. The strategy concerned with conceptual features of religious expressions tries to draw attention to similarities between the way certain expressions function as frameworks for our epistemic practices. In addition to this strategy a more thorough examination of the differences between different practices is needed, argues their author.

By the second strategy Phillips and Wittgenstein draw our attention to the natural history of mankind, to what they call primitive reactions. It is shown that an appeal to this notion reminds us of the fact that what we do and say in many cases are not the result of reasoning. Rather we just act. Religion, too, is conceptually speaking a way of living, and not a theory. We refrain from reducing or distorting religion when we pay attention to the logic of religious expressions and come to see the distinctive character of religious phenomena. This pursuit is not solely an intellectual one, but something that is possible only if one works on oneself.

Examines a passage in Wittgenstein's writings that seem to compare God with colours; and asks what the comparison says about God.

There is no strong need for building a new system of regulation and oversight for synthetic biology. Even though SynBio is novel in respect to scope for scientific creativity, its open-ended nature and the potential for large-scale production, we can use the existing framework of research ethics. To fulfill reasonable obligations we need to adhere to common moral norms, need to improve bioethics education and deliberation, protect and encourage whistleblowing, take biosafety and biosecurity measures, and make more use of biosafety and ethical review committees. The only thing that might be lacking is a robust co-operative system for addressing issues that surrounds the publication of sensitive findings (scientists, journals and the security service might have to establish new forms for collaboration). This does not mean that there is not some other questionable phenomenon with regard to the field – commercial providers might have a legal duty to screen customers for potential wrong-doers. But as far as researchers having obligations, individually or collectively, those can be met through research ethics as we already know it, bonly better implemented.

Biobankslagens krav på förnyat samtycke när tidigare givna prov används för ett nytt ändamål har orsakat problem och oro bland forskare. Artikelförfattaren visar på några oklarheter, föreslår tolkningar och påminner om att det är individen/donatorn, inte forskningens teknikaliteter, som bör stå i centrum för etiska diskussioner.

In this article, it is claimed that the protective provisions for adults with impaired decision-making capacity are misguided, insofar as they do not conclusively state whether research on this group should be permitted only as an exception, and as they arbitrarily allow for some groups to benefit from such research while others will not. Moreover, the presumed or former will of the subject is given insufficient weight, and the minimal risk standard does not make sense in this context.

Because of these problems, the present guidelines allow for the possibility of vulnerable people being exploited, something that is hidden behind a guise of solidarity. Instead we need to address the real issues at stake by rewriting the present statutes.

It is suggested that new guidelines should be in some continuity with earlier efforts. However, in order to protect these subjects there is additional need for appointed representatives who monitor research and for legal obligations to compensate for any injuries suffered.

Without these or similar measures we won’t have an adequate system in place for the protection of non-benefiting persons who are unable to consent to research.

This paper addresses the question of whether to return information about disease and hereditary dispositions, resulting from research, including information that not only affects the research subjects but is also of interest to their biological relatives. An important prerequisite for a return is that results meet strong quality requirements. Moreover, the arguments in favor of a contact should outweigh those against it. When there is a moral demand to inform biological relatives, subjects themselves typically act as informants. If subjects are in doubt as to whether a contact is required, the investigators themselves must make a judgment. If they feel it is indeed necessary, they should try to strengthen subjects’ autonomy and encourage them to take responsibility. It is argued that this is neither a paternalistic line of action, nor does it undermine the autonomy of research subjects and their relatives.