Course Details

Emerging Issues in Biotech & Food

The advance of technology commonly brings great gains for society; however, those advances often also bring about new societal challenges. These challenges must be met with either the application and adaptation of existing laws and regulations or the development of entirely new legal structures. The study and application of biology – loosely defined as biotechnology – has seen monumental advancements in the last few decades. Impacts of these biological advances have been seen in industries as diverse as pharmaceuticals, food and agriculture, banking, and family law. This course allows students the opportunity to explore recent technological developments in biotechnology and food technology, concentrating on the social, ethical and legal effects of these developments. The course begins with a professor-led series of discussions centered around new technologies from various industries and their resulting societal challenges. The class will discuss existing and emerging ethical and legal regimes for these technologies. In the second half of the course, students will be required to research a technological topic of their choice (with professor approval) and lead a substantial class discussion on the technology and its social, ethical, and legal effects.

Catalog Number: REGLAW 921-0
Additional Course Information: MSL students only

Course History

Spring 2024
Title: Emerging Issues in Biotech & Food
Faculty: Carter-Johnson, Jeffrey Shealy (courses | profile)
Section: 1     Credits: 1.0
Capacity: 24     Actual: 0