ABSTRACT
Freedom of inquiry in the sciences is increasingly the subject of controversy. Unquestionably, freedom to think, research, and publish has been a major factor in the acquisition of human knowledge and understanding. Restrictions upon scientific research have been advocated because of the newly found ability to change genetic behavior, the presumed dangers in man's altered conception of himself, the physical risks to human subjects, the violation of their privacy, and the possibility of physical, chemical, and biological harm to the community. The assignment of the probabilities of risk is a matter of scientific expertise; what to do in cases of risk is a matter of government policy. The First Amendment implications do, however, impose upon the government that constitutional duty to employ the least intrusive means of regulations. Advances in science have given new and dangerous weapons to governments for use against their citizens.
