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Abdallah S Daar

Publications and source records attributed to Abdallah S Daar.

43 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

The science of stem cells: ethical, legal and social issues.

Stem cells are exciting to physicians, scientists and patients because of their potential to develop into many different cell types, tissues and perhaps even organs that can possibly be used to treat large numbers of patients with a variety of diseases. Scientific research, while it is still at a very early stage, is developing rapidly and creating enormous challenges for ethicists and policy-makers, especially in relation to embryonic stem cells. An understanding of the scientific facts of stem cell science and technology per se, the embryology and the associated terminology is critically important to making ethically sound policy judgments. The facts, definitions and terminology are confusing and are liable to misuse by those who seek to further a particular position. In this paper we provide a concise overview of the important scientific facts related to embryology and embryonic stem cells and highlight some recent scientific developments that are salient for the purpose of understanding the ethical, legal and social issues that have arisen and will continue to arise and be debated.

Animals↗

Needed: models of biotechnology intellectual property.

Although never uncontroversial, intellectual property rights in biotechnological innovation are once more the focus of intense debate. The debate has yet to reach any result, largely because of several important errors in the way that various disciplines approach it. These errors include making assumptions without empirical basis and conflating various intellectual property regimes. What is needed is a transdisciplinary integrated method to correct these errors. Such a method can be implemented through the construction of alternative models of intellectual property protection designed to balance the various social, ethical and economic constraints that affect biotechnology.

Biotechnology↗

Top ten biotechnologies for improving health in developing countries.

Most research into genomics and other related biotechnologies is concerned with the priorities of industrialized nations, and yet a limited number of projects have shown that these technologies could help improve health in developing countries. To encourage the successful application of biotechnology to global health, we carried out a study in which we asked an international group of eminent scientists with expertise in global health issues to identify the top ten biotechnologies for improving health in developing countries. The results offer concrete guidance to those in a position to influence the direction of research and development, and challenge common assumptions about the relevance and affordability of biotechnology for developing countries.

Biotechnology↗