ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on technology assessment information pertaining to four important issues associated with biotechnology: the pending adoption of bovine somatotropin in the dairy industry, the status of patent rights for genetically engineered animals, the commercialization of biotechnology, and the Human Genome Initiative, a series of federally funded programs designed to map the human gene. The current biotechnology regulatory scheme, involves a variety of regulatory agencies depending on the application of biotechnology under consideration. There are three primary sources of technology assessment within Congress: the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA), General Accounting Office (GAO), and the Congressional Research Service (CRS). Congressional staff reports are an important source of technology information for policy makers. The case of biotechnology and its various episodes of debate reveal the importance of these agencies in shaping the contours of policy consideration by the nature of the involvement—or lack of involvement.
