Asilomar Conference on Recombinant DNA

Title: Asilomar Conference on Recombinant DNA
Date: 1975
Description: Scientists and other participants met at the International Conference on Recombinant DNA Molecules at Asilomar in Pacific Grove, California, in February 1975 to deliberate about potential hazards of recombinant DNA research and the conditions under which such research should proceed.
ABP identifier: ABP-E-0010
Historical significance: Asilomar became an influential episode in the governance of emerging biotechnology. It illustrates prospective ethical deliberation under scientific uncertainty, scientific self-governance, risk assessment, and the development of oversight mechanisms before harms were fully known. The conference contributed to the pathway leading to NIH recombinant-DNA guidelines in 1976.
Intellectual stream: Empirical / scientific; Law & public policy
Verification status: Verified
Evidence confidence: High
Open question: How should the project represent later criticisms of Asilomar concerning public participation, the boundaries of scientific self-governance, and who had authority to define acceptable risk?