ABSTRACT

Gene editing is an inherently wicked problem with no single right answer and no group uniquely positioned to decide this answer. We discuss the intricacies of the debates surrounding both plant and human applications of gene editing. Specifically, we demonstrate how one technology has developed into two separate context-driven debates within the scientific community with seemingly contradictory perspectives of ideal outcomes. Resolving these debates will require a culture of civic science that focuses on early and ongoing engagement with different publics that is not just done on science’s terms. We provide recommendations for how both bench and social scientists should approach these issues moving forward. We also give a brief review of the research and commentaries included in this special issue of Environmental Communication on gene editing.

摘要

基因编辑是一个天生的邪恶问题，没有一个正确的答案，也没有一个群体可以唯一地决定这个答案。我们讨论围绕植物和人类应用基因编辑的辩论的复杂性。具体来说，我们展示了一种技术如何在科学界内以理想成果看似矛盾的观点发展为两个独立的，由情境驱动的辩论。解决这些辩论将需要一种公民科学文化，这种文化应侧重于与公众进行早期和持续的接触，而不仅仅是根据科学的术语。我们为工作人员和社会科学家应如何应对这些问题提供建议。我们还将简要回顾本期特刊中的研究和评论。基因编辑方面的环境交流。