Resources

The online resources include organizations with a variety of interests and perspectives. The Human Genome Project site has good basic information about genetic engineering that can be understood by non-experts. The Council for Responsible Genetics considers the impacts of biotechnology from a public interest perspective, including the effects of germline engineering, while the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) officially represents the biotech industry and its constituent companies.

Nuffield Council on Bioethics
www.nuffieldbioethics.org
The Nuffield Council on Bioethics is an independent body examining and reporting on the ethical issues associated with biological and medical research in order to facilitate policy making. The Council's website is available here.

Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity
www.cbhd.org
The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity is a non-profit organization funded by private groups dedicated to supplying information regarding bioethical issues, such as euthanasia, genetic intervention, and assisted reproductive technologies. Many of the resources and viewpoints are from a Christian perspective. The website is available here.

Council for Responsible Genetics
www.gene-watch.org
The Council for Responsible Genetics is a non-profit non-governmental organization founded to distribute information about emerging social, ethical, and environmental issues in biotechnology. The Council also produces a newsletter called GeneWatch and maintains a website which can be found here.

National Consultative Ethics Committee for Health and Life Sciences
www.ccne-ethique.fr/english/start.htm
The National Consultative Ethics Committee for Health and Life Sciences was established by French governmental decree but now is an independent authority whose mission is to "give opinions on ethical problems and societal issues raised by progress in the fields of biology, medicine, and health." The website, which includes opinions, reports, and related information, is available here.

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/index.htm
The Human Genetics Advisory Committee (HGAC) of the National Health and Medical Research Council was established to provide advice to the Australian government pertaining to the ethical, legal, and social issues of human genetics and related technologies. The website is available here.

Italian National Bioethics Committee
www.palazzochigi.it/bioetica/eng/index.html
The Italian National Bioethics Committee was established to make available information and produce opinions and reports concerning biomedical and genetic research for reference in policy making. The Committee's website can be found here.

European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies
http://ec.europa.eu/european_group_ethics/index_en.htm
The European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies is composed of 15 appointed experts and is charged with the task of examining ethical questions arising from science and technology. The Group's website can be found here.

International Bioethics Committee of UNESCO
www.unesco.org/ibc
The International Bioethics Committee of UNESCO fosters an international discussion on the social, cultural, legal, and ethical implications of scientific progress. The website, which includes declarations and other resources, is available here.

National: Policy and Ethics
http://www.genome.gov/PolicyEthics
The National Human Genome Research Institute, a division of the National Institutes of Health, maintains a website devoted to ethical, legal, and social issues related to genetic research and technologies. The site, which can be found here contains a policy and legislation database as well as links to publications, resources, and other websites.

HumGen
www.humgen.umontreal.ca/en/
Humgen is a searchable human genetics policy database containing legislation, publications, and reports concerning genetic testing, cloning, gene therapy, intellectual property, and other related topics. The website, which includes a newsletter, can be found here.

Synthetic Biology
http://syntheticbiology.org/
Synthetic Biology is a group of individuals comprised mostly of students and scientists dedicated to promoting the field of synthetic biology and ensuring that is conducted in a responsible manner in the best interests of science and society. The term "synthetic biology" entails designing or building biological parts and systems, and reverse engineering simple, natural biological systems already existing in nature. A website including documents, projects, conference reports, and a discussion forum can be found here

"The Coordination Action Chimbrids"
http://www.chimbrids.org/.
The website for an EU-funded project, entitled "The Coordination Action Chimbrids," analyzes fundamental issues in genetic research relating to chimeras and hybrids - creatures consisting of both human and animal genetic material. The objective of the project is to develop an understanding of the legal, social, and ethical implications of chimera and hybrid research within an international framework. The website is available here.

Human Genome Project
http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/medicine/genetherapy.shtml.
The Human Genome Project has a gene therapy page where the interested non-scientist can learn about gene therapy. The site contains a section on ethics and is available here.

The Center for Genetics and Society
http://www.genetics-and-society.org/index.asp
The Center for Genetics and Society has a website with a section on policies, perspectives, news articles, and information on germline intervention technologies. The site is available here.

The American Journal of Bioethics
http://bioethics.net
The American Journal of Bioethics website provides journal articles and resources on bioethics, including germline intervention. It includes weekly news updates, editorials, and featured target articles. This site is available here.

The Council for Responsible Genetics
here.
The Council for Responsible Genetics is a non-profit organization dedicated to distributing accurate information about biotechnology. The website includes the online magazine Genewatch, which is dedicated to monitoring the social, ethical and environmental consequences of biotechnology, as well as an entire section focusing on human genetic manipulation and cloning. This site is available http://www.gene-watch.org/programs/cloning.html.


http://www.icgeb.trieste.it
The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology is an organization dedicated to research and training in molecular biology and biotechnology. The ICGEB promotes "safe use of biotechnology" and is a major resource for technical information, including research and training sources. This site is available here.

Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)
http://www.bio.org/issues/genetherapy_120799.html
The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) represents biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations in the United States and numerous other countries. BIO has developed an "Oversight of Gene Therapy: A Position Paper of the Biotechnology Industry Organization," which is available here.

Gene Watch
http://www.genewatch.org
Gene Watch is a nonprofit group in the United Kingdom that monitors genetic technology, with special focus on the public interest aspects. The site is available here.

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
http://www.dnalc.org
The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (www.cshl.org) conducts research in cancer, genomics, plant genetics, and neurobiology. The website includes the Dolan DNA Learning Center site, which is a resource for educational information about DNA and is available here.

Global Lawyers and Physicians for Human Rights
http://www.glphr.org/genetic/genetic.htm
The website for Global Lawyers and Physicians for Human Rights provides information on national and international legislation regarding human cloning and germline intervention. This site has a clickable "genetics database map" which allows the user to click on regions of the world and get information about policies and resources in that area relating to cloning and germline intervention. The site is available here.

Disabled Peoples International (DPI)
http://www.dpieurope.org/htm/bioethics/dpsngfullreport.htm
The Disabled Peoples International (DPI) Position Statement on Bioethics and Human Rights offers statements on the potential implications of genetic interventions to the disabled community. The Position Statement is available here.

Human Genetics Alert
Human Genetics Alert, a public interest group based in London, has a number of position papers, press releases, and cartoons dedicated to the implications of biotechnology, including germline intervention. The website is available here.