Summary

At a scientific seminar in Erice in 1972, news of developments in gene hybrids and recombinant DNA brought up concerns among members of the scientific community about safety. Who would ensure that these technologies were not co-opted for nefarious purposes and what would stop gene hybrids from unleashing "biological chaos on humans?" (225). A few months after, a conference was organized to "address the growing concerns about gene-manipulation technologies" (226). The conference, later dubbed Asilomar 1, focused primarily on biosafety issues and produced a book, but did not reach any formal conclusions or regulations. Later, a panel of scientists drafted a formal letter, pleading for a moratorium on certain kinds of recombinant DNA research. With the moratorium in place, a second conference, Asilomar II, was planned.

At Asilomar II, a large group of scientists, lawyers, and journalists convened to further discuss the potential...