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BioSafety Journal
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso
ISSN: 1366 0233
Vol. 1, Num. 1, 1995
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BioSafety
Volume 1, Paper 1 (BY95001), April 26th 1995
Online Journal, URL - http://bioline.bdt.org.br/by
Editorial
Code Number: BY95001
Size of files:
Text: 4K
No associated graphics files
BioSafety is being published because:
a) it deals with a topic of absorbing interest to many
scientists, technologists, regulatory authorities,
environmentalists and industrialists, and
b) a focal journal for communication and interaction is
merited in this multidisciplinary topic, where contributions
are widely scattered through the literature.
There are two principle causes of the interest in biosafety.
First, there is the previously-unparalleled ability to produce
novel organisms - ones with genetic parameters which have not
previously existed - as a consequence of progress in molecular
biology. Secondly, there is the international concern about
the preservation of biodiversity, which some believe will be
made more difficult by the release of genetically-novel
organisms into the environment. Although attention has been
concentrated on GMOs, it is important to recognise that the
real issue is that release to the environment of any organisms
not previously present in that ecosystem may have positive or
negative, major or minor, environmental consequences.
The scope of BioSafety is assessment of the possibility that
harm will occur to people and/or to the environment by release
of novel organisms. Significant subdivisions of this include
control and regulation, containment, hazard analysis, risk
assessment and management, monitoring, methodology of
ecosystem characterisation, together with many others that
impinge on biosafety. In many areas both innovative science
and technological issues are significant.
We recognise that the whole topic of biosafety embraces
uncertainties and that there are contentious issues; we will
welcome contributions which discuss and debate these in a well
argued manner. Hopefully, such contributions will help to
develop a consensus view in areas where misunderstandings are
widespread.
This journal is published online via the Internet, with no
hardcopy version. It is produced in this way because it makes
publishing much less expensive and subscription costs can be
low. Also, it can be read in all regions of the world, since
the journal can be accessed by E-mail as well as by the World
Wide Web (WWW) and gopher.
Online publishing also allows rapid publication; papers will
be published without delay, once peer reviewing has indicated
that quality is acceptable. Publication of papers in BioSafety
will not be delayed until sufficient have accumulated to make
an issue. However, all publication in a calender year will
constitute an annual volume. Definitive bibliographic
referencing will consist of authors, titles etc in the usual
way, plus the date of publication and paper number in the
volume. This editorial will be contribution 1 in volume 1,
April 25th 1995. The full reference will appear at the head of
each paper.
As with all material published on the Bioline Publications
system, abstracts of papers will be in the public domain and
can be read without payment by all Internet users.
Subscription can be made by sending an E-mail message to
biosafe@biostrat.demon.co.uk, or by using the Registration
forms available on the Bioline system. These forms also
contain price information. In addition to annual
subscriptions, it is possible to purchase single papers.
We welcome contributions. These will be peer reviewed in the
normal way to ensure that the journal is of high standard.
Notes for contributors are to be found at the head of the
BioSafety page on the Bioline system. The copyright of
material published in BioSafety will remain with the authors,
rather then being assigned to the publisher as is usual with
hardcopy journals.
Brian Kirsop.
Editor
BioSafety
Stainfield House
Stainfield
Bourne, Lincs, UK PE10 0RS
Published by Bioline Publications and Science and
Technology Letters
Editorial Office: biosafe@biostrat.demon.co.uk
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