Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41483264›Full record

ArticleScience and engineering ethics2026

An Analysis of the Governance, Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications of Biocomputing.

Renée A Sirbu, Luciano Floridi

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Science and engineering ethics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Renée A SirbuYale Digital Ethics Center, Yale University, 85 Trumbull Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA. renee.sirbu@aya.yale.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4380-3340
Luciano FloridiYale Digital Ethics Center, Yale University, 85 Trumbull Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Biological computing (biocomputing) leverages biologically derived materials and processes, such as DNA and protein synthesis, to perform computational tasks. Biocomputing offers significant advantages over traditional silicon-based systems in terms of scalability, energy efficiency, computational flexibility, and information storage potential. However, the distinct operational characteristics of biocomputing raise novel governance, ethical, legal, and social implications (GELSI). This article identifies and analyzes key GELSI concerns raised by biocomputing. It then highlights the inadequacies of current regulatory frameworks in addressing the unique challenges posed by massively parallel molecular computations, biosafety risks, probabilistic error management in clinical applications, patentability of biological storage systems, and ownership rights in self-replicating data systems. The analysis concludes by recommending specialized regulatory approaches and international collaboration to govern biocomputing technologies responsibly, ensuring their ethical integration and equitable benefits across global societies.

Indexed as

Computational BiologyHumansInternational CooperationOwnershipBiocomputingBiological data ownershipEthical implicationsGovernance frameworksRegulatory oversight

Identifiers

PMID41483264
PMCPMC12816112

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.