The Challenge of Biotechnology

Since recombinant DNA technology was first developed in the early 1970\u27s, society has been faced with the immense task of overseeing its use and development. Scientists have been concerned with continuing their research free from burdensome regulations, while policy-makers have worried about the potential for a biotechnological disaster if such research remains unregulated. Accordingly, attempts to control the technology\u27s potential dangers while encouraging exploration of its benefits have caused many conflicts, both within and between the scientific and regulatory communities