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The changing norms of the life sciences

Nature Biotechnology volume 21, pages 123–125 (2003)Cite this article

New institutional relationships, sources of funding, collaborations, and career paths are arising in the rapidly evolving field of life sciences. Concerns about eventual product development resulting from scientific work are increasing in importance, whereas open publication of data is not. We contend that current practices in the life sciences do not conform to a Mertonian analysis of scientific value. Moreover, we propose that active investigation of the process of evolution of the life sciences should be a priority and concern to its scientific practitioners and the publics who fund, purchase, or are affected by its products.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. director of programs, Council for Responsible Genetics, Cambridge, 02140, MA

    Peter Shorett

  2. professor in the Department of Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley, 94720, CA

    Paul Rabinow

  3. Department of Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley, 94720, CA

    Paul R. Billings

  4. GeneSage and Wipro Healthsciences, Pt. Richmond, 94802, CA

    Paul R. Billings

Authors
  1. Peter Shorett
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  2. Paul Rabinow
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  3. Paul R. Billings
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Shorett, P., Rabinow, P. & Billings, P. The changing norms of the life sciences. Nat Biotechnol 21, 123–125 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0203-123

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