Nanotechnology and the human future: policy, ethics, and risk

The extraordinary potential of nanoscale research and development has yet to be matched in the growth of public awareness of the technology and its implications for society. Groups have emerged that are highly critical of the technology, and others that see it as the key to the radical transformation of human nature itself. Between these extremes, the direction of federal policy has been to encourage the technology while respecting the integrity of the human condition. Experience with genetically modified foods in Europe, where they are widely known as "Frankenfoods," suggests that wide public acceptance of a new technology is crucial to its economic success. A focus on the ethical, legal, and societal implications of the technology, and especially respect for human nature, is therefore prudent. But it is not enough to fund research on societal questions; respect for the human condition must frame the development of nanotechnology. This article draws upon our experiences with biotechnology to better understand the issues we face as developments in nanotechnology begin to impact society.