Researcher’s Attitudes Toward Synthetic Biolo-gy in Bushehr University
Background: Synthetic biology is an interdisciplinary branch of biology and engineering. As synthetic biology develops into a promising science and engineering field, we need to clarify the purpose and nature of this science in terms of security, ethics and the recognition of the benefits of potenti...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Bushehr University of Medical Sciences
2019-10-01
|
| Series: | Iranian South Medical Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://ismj.bpums.ac.ir/article-1-1146-en.html |
| _version_ | 1819179925410676736 |
|---|---|
| author | Katayon Vahdat Ali Ashrafppour Amin Tamadon Amirreza Bolkheir Mehdi Mahmoodpour Iraj Nabipour |
| author_facet | Katayon Vahdat Ali Ashrafppour Amin Tamadon Amirreza Bolkheir Mehdi Mahmoodpour Iraj Nabipour |
| author_sort | Katayon Vahdat |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Synthetic biology is an interdisciplinary branch of biology and engineering. As synthetic biology develops into a promising science and engineering field, we need to clarify the purpose and nature of this science in terms of security, ethics and the recognition of the benefits of potential risks. The aim of this study was to evaluate the researchers’ attitudes toward synthetic biology in Bushehr University of Medical Science.
Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted on 80 faculty members of Bushehr University of Medical Sciences who have the research experience. To collect information a researcher-made questionnaire consisted of 19 questions in fields of benefits and risks of synthetic biology, compliance with religious beliefs, uncertainty about the boundaries between man and God, the necessity of policy making in this science and the speed of progress of this science were used. Demographics characteristics of subjects were also assessed through the questionnaire.
Results: In this study, 22 women and 58 men with the average age of 43.87±7.35 years of 20.79±14.56 (range 31 to 60 years) with mean history of research of 12.43±6.2 years were enrolled. The results showed that 85.65% of study subjects had a positive approach to the benefits of this science, 72.46% expressed concern about the serious risks of synthetic biology and 72.33% had positive attitude towards policy making in this field. There was an intersectional and boundary relationship between conflicts with religious beliefs and trust the policymakers and scientists (P=0.052). Also, there was no significant relationship between age, sex, and research history with any of the questionnaire items (P-value>0.05).
Conclusion: The academic society was aware from the benefits and risks of synthetic biology. They did not express a conflict between this branch of science and their religious beliefs and trusts. They also considered an interdisciplinary approach and training of a skillful human resource among the fundamental strategic policies in the field of synthetic biology. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T22:06:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-10a3a82b2f294a86a03ee7ae1e49f8f9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1735-4374 1735-6954 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T22:06:11Z |
| publishDate | 2019-10-01 |
| publisher | Bushehr University of Medical Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Iranian South Medical Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-10a3a82b2f294a86a03ee7ae1e49f8f92022-12-21T18:10:59ZengBushehr University of Medical SciencesIranian South Medical Journal1735-43741735-69542019-10-01224236247Researcher’s Attitudes Toward Synthetic Biolo-gy in Bushehr UniversityKatayon Vahdat0Ali Ashrafppour1Amin Tamadon2Amirreza Bolkheir3Mehdi Mahmoodpour4Iraj Nabipour5 The Persian Gulf Tropical Medicine Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran Student Research Committee, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran The Persian Gulf Marine Biotechnology Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran Otolaryngology Research Center, Department of Otolaryngology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran The Persian Gulf Tropical Medicine Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran The Persian Gulf Marine Biotechnology Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran<br>Future Studies Group, The Academy of Medical Sciences of the I.R.Iran Background: Synthetic biology is an interdisciplinary branch of biology and engineering. As synthetic biology develops into a promising science and engineering field, we need to clarify the purpose and nature of this science in terms of security, ethics and the recognition of the benefits of potential risks. The aim of this study was to evaluate the researchers’ attitudes toward synthetic biology in Bushehr University of Medical Science. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted on 80 faculty members of Bushehr University of Medical Sciences who have the research experience. To collect information a researcher-made questionnaire consisted of 19 questions in fields of benefits and risks of synthetic biology, compliance with religious beliefs, uncertainty about the boundaries between man and God, the necessity of policy making in this science and the speed of progress of this science were used. Demographics characteristics of subjects were also assessed through the questionnaire. Results: In this study, 22 women and 58 men with the average age of 43.87±7.35 years of 20.79±14.56 (range 31 to 60 years) with mean history of research of 12.43±6.2 years were enrolled. The results showed that 85.65% of study subjects had a positive approach to the benefits of this science, 72.46% expressed concern about the serious risks of synthetic biology and 72.33% had positive attitude towards policy making in this field. There was an intersectional and boundary relationship between conflicts with religious beliefs and trust the policymakers and scientists (P=0.052). Also, there was no significant relationship between age, sex, and research history with any of the questionnaire items (P-value>0.05). Conclusion: The academic society was aware from the benefits and risks of synthetic biology. They did not express a conflict between this branch of science and their religious beliefs and trusts. They also considered an interdisciplinary approach and training of a skillful human resource among the fundamental strategic policies in the field of synthetic biology.http://ismj.bpums.ac.ir/article-1-1146-en.htmlSynthetic biologyEthicsScientistsBenefitsHazards |
| spellingShingle | Katayon Vahdat Ali Ashrafppour Amin Tamadon Amirreza Bolkheir Mehdi Mahmoodpour Iraj Nabipour Researcher’s Attitudes Toward Synthetic Biolo-gy in Bushehr University Iranian South Medical Journal Synthetic biology Ethics Scientists Benefits Hazards |
| title | Researcher’s Attitudes Toward Synthetic Biolo-gy in Bushehr University |
| title_full | Researcher’s Attitudes Toward Synthetic Biolo-gy in Bushehr University |
| title_fullStr | Researcher’s Attitudes Toward Synthetic Biolo-gy in Bushehr University |
| title_full_unstemmed | Researcher’s Attitudes Toward Synthetic Biolo-gy in Bushehr University |
| title_short | Researcher’s Attitudes Toward Synthetic Biolo-gy in Bushehr University |
| title_sort | researcher s attitudes toward synthetic biolo gy in bushehr university |
| topic | Synthetic biology Ethics Scientists Benefits Hazards |
| url | http://ismj.bpums.ac.ir/article-1-1146-en.html |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT katayonvahdat researchersattitudestowardsyntheticbiologyinbushehruniversity AT aliashrafppour researchersattitudestowardsyntheticbiologyinbushehruniversity AT amintamadon researchersattitudestowardsyntheticbiologyinbushehruniversity AT amirrezabolkheir researchersattitudestowardsyntheticbiologyinbushehruniversity AT mehdimahmoodpour researchersattitudestowardsyntheticbiologyinbushehruniversity AT irajnabipour researchersattitudestowardsyntheticbiologyinbushehruniversity |