2021 Articles

A dangerous, wrong or unneeded experiment? Don’t do it

Cobb, Matthew; Pollack, Robert

In "A Dangerous, Wrong or Unneeded Experiment: Don’t Do It," Robert Pollack and Matthew Cobb argue against the pursuit of certain high-risk scientific experiments, particularly those involving gene editing and synthetic biology, which may have unforeseen and potentially catastrophic consequences. The authors caution that the drive for scientific advancement should be tempered by ethical considerations and the precautionary principle, which advocates for restraint in the face of uncertainty. They emphasize the importance of global cooperation and regulation to prevent dangerous experimentation that could harm both humanity and the environment. Pollack and Cobb call for a reevaluation of the priorities in scientific research, urging the scientific community to focus on safer and more ethically sound endeavors that contribute positively to society.