Zilinskas, Raymond A. "New Biotechnology: Potential Problems, Likely Promises." Politics and the Life Sciences 2, 1 (August, 1983):42-52.
[Seven commentaries and author response, pp. 52-75]
Introduction. Janus-like, biotechnology, like other high technologies, presents two sides to society. On the one hand, a benign, even benevolent countenance holds forth the promise of virtually unlimited possibilities for doing good. Yet, if proper care is not taken, this same technology can present a specter of chthonic forces, difficult to contain.
The dilemma of technology¾ to help or to hurt¾ has been with human society since the dawn of history, but it has become particularly problematic during the industrial age. It may well be that we are now at the dawn of the age of biotechnology. To quote physicist and Nobel prize winner Abdus Salam, "there is no question that the 21st century will be the century of applied biology, particularly for the developing world" (Salam, 1983). If so, society would do well to avoid the objectionable aspects which in the past have accompanied the development and utilization of technologies.
Biotechnology poses problems in several areas: the ascertaining of intellectual property rights, the disposal of biowastes, the large-scale release of genetically altered organisms into the environment, and more. Here I will limit consideration to two areas¾ one potential, the other actual. First I will discuss the possibility of illicitly employing new biotechnology techniques for biological warfare. Second, I will focus on the problem of how best to share with peoples everywhere the enormous benefits likely to result from research and development in biotechnology. The second problem may turn out to be a blessing in disguise. An unprecedented global effort is now shaping up which has the goal of making certain the fruits of biotechnology are in fact shared. If this effort is successful, a new high in international cooperation may be reached, dwarfing the only other successful global cooperative effort¾ the elimination of smallpox.