BIOMIMETICS

Ethical, Legal and Social Issues

 

Unlike other fields of biotechnology, biomimetics does not have as many ethical, legal and social issues. This is because biomimetics is a process used to improve the products we use in everyday life. For example, whale flippers and bird wings have been used to improve efficiency of airplane wings. Society is affected in a positive way by the use of biomimetic inventions. These inventions serve to make transportation safer and more fuel efficient, improve electronic devices, and expedite daily tasks, such as the use of velcro in shoes and other items, and the widespread use of “scotch” tape.

 

In general, much of the public sector benefits from biomimetic inventions. In contrast, other areas of biotechnology, such as biomedicine, benefit those that can afford new products and services and leave out those who cannot. In addition, the manufacturing and sales industries also stand to benefit from the wide variety of biomimetic inventions. Some ethical issues exist in biomimetics, such as concern for animal rights and welfare and ethical issues of testing on human subjects.

 

With regard to legal issues, the type of Federal agency involved in testing and/or approving biomimetic inventions is completely dependent on on the type of product under consideration. Some of the agencies that may be involved include the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission.