Biotechnology 2.0: The New Relationship Between Biotechnology Applied to the HUMAN Being and to Society

Abstract

Biotechnologies are transforming human existence. Their potential is increasing constantly and they undoubtedly can contribute to people’s welfare and to the progress of humanity. However, they also can have unwanted effects in the form of known risks or silent transformations of human life not decided by anyone. This article offers an overview of the biotechnologies applied to human life, with an emphasis on their profound evolution during the last century, as of the late nineties, and their extraordinary impact on society. In view of several particularly significant biotechno­ logical developments between 2010 and 2011, the author maintains the relationship between biotechnology and society underwent a radical change at the beginning of the twenty­first century, prompting talk of a second stage in the development of biotechnology, one the author suggests be called “Biotechnology 2.0”.