Biotechnology, Law and Society
Module summary
This module examines the role played by law in the regulation of biotechnology. It will explore the role played by the law in resolving political and ethical disagreements pertaining to the regulation of biotechnology and examine the nature of biotechnology as a technological, economic, political and social endeavour.
The module draws out two central problems relating to the use of law in this dynamic field:
- It is often difficult for regulators to keep pace with rapid advances in biotechnology and the life sciences. This means that existing legal concepts and regulatory frameworks can soon appear outmoded and inadequate.
- In an age of moral pluralism, it can be difficult for stakeholders to secure social consensus on how new biotechnologies should be controlled and exploited. As a result, the regulation of biotechnology has often been a site of sharp political disagreement.
This module examines how these fundamental tensions are mediated within the legal and regulatory structures governing biotechnology at both the national and international levels.
Session titles
- Biotechnology and regulation
- Stem cell research 1: National frameworks
- Stem cell research 2: European and international frameworks
- Colonising the future
- New modes of governance
- Risk assessment
- Intellectual property and the life sciences
- Genetics and criminal law
- Genetics and race
- Biotechnology and our 'post-human' future
Learning outcomes
By the end of this module you should be able to:
- Appreciate the range of competing considerations and interests at play in the regulation of biotechnology
- Be able to formulate well-reasoned and coherent arguments relating to biotechnology law
- Demonstrate a solid understanding of current national, regional and international regimes for the control of biotechnology, and where appropriate suggest reforms thereof.
Assessment
One Essay, 5000 words (60%); one piece of assessed course work (20%); participation in online activity (20%).
