Regulation of science

The regulation of science refers to use of law, or other ruling, by academic or governmental bodies to allow or restrict science from performing certain practices, or researching certain scientific areas. It is a bioethical issue related to other practices such as abortion and euthanasia; and areas of research such as stem-cell research and cloning synthetic biology.

Reasons for the regulation of science by legislation if often due to them being seen as harmful (such as euthanasia), immoral (such as abortion), or dangerous (as with cloning). For these reasons it is closely related to religion, culture and society.