The Global Observatory prepares thematic collections that summarize and analyze important areas of discourse and debate relevant to the ethics and governance of emerging biotechnologies. These collections organize and make accessible many of the resources catalogued in the Observatory’s curated database.
Where do we draw the line between a cluster of cells and a human being? The ‘14-day rule’ concerning embryo research is one result of a long process to determine just that.
In May 2025, The Global Observatory convened an International Summit on Genome Editing. This collection contains perspectives written specifically for the meeting and collected in special edition of The CRISPR Journal.
Moratoria, temporary prohibitions on specific forms of research, are one of the most prominent tools of scientific self-governance. When a research controversy rears its head, many in the scientific community are quick to call for a time-limited and voluntary ban on the research in question.