Author Archives: Chris MacDonald

I was recently interviewed for the newsletter of Genome Atlantic, about my work at the intersection of Business Ethics & biotechnology / genomics. (I sit on a Genome Atlantic advisory body known as the “GE3LS Forum”. “GE3LS” stands for “Genomics-related, … Continue reading →

By bioethicist Arthur Caplan, writing for MSNBC: Disability-free world may not be a better place …Gene testing of parental carriers is leading to the birth of fewer and fewer children with inherited diseases in the United States. Other conditions such … Continue reading →

It’s safe. It’s accurate. It predicts the sex of a fetus, at just a few weeks’ pregnancy. And it’s not being sold direct-to-consumers for at-home use. Yet. From the LA Times: A new test to reveal a baby’s gender revives … Continue reading →

Cutting-edge medicine is perhaps most likely to be sought out by those with desperate need. Desperately ill people might be the first group of such people to come to mind. But what about people who are desperately driven to win … Continue reading →

From Australian Food News: Australians “uncomfortable” with GM food The headline might be a bit misleading. Because a big part of what the story actually says is not that Australians are uncomfortable with GM food per se, but that they’re … Continue reading →

Here’s a useful and substantial article on the environmental promise of industrial, or “white,” biotechnology, from EurActiv.com: Greens embrace enzymes in climate change fight: Industrial biotechnology is gaining supporters among environmentalists as a way to make significant cuts in greenhouse-gas … Continue reading →

Does this headline strike you as a good idea? From the UK-based publication, Meat Trade News Daily: Australia – Looney Activists out in force Anti-GM activists have protested outside the opening of a genetically modified technology conference in Melbourne. They … Continue reading →

There’s plenty of debate over whether or how biotechnology will help developing nations. Some people see hope in biotech’s promise to increase crop yields, to make vaccines that don’t need refrigeration, and to offer new methods of bioremediation. Others suspect … Continue reading →

Bizarre! From one of CBS News’ “Taking Liberties” blog: Want A Job In Akron? Hand Over Your DNA It’s not unusual for employers to conduct criminal background checks during the hiring process. But the University of Akron has taken this … Continue reading →