La ciencia neoliberal

in the few decades since the origins of recombinant dna technology (1972), in a geopolitical context characterized by a growing mercantilization of all spheres of society, profound transformations have taken place in the practice and ethos of the so-called life sciences and in the role universities in these fields. these changes originated and have been particularly widespread in the united states. the values and norms of liberal science -as classically described by robert merton- tend to become relics of the past. it is necessary to study this new scientific paradigm -neoliberal science- as a guide to foresee (and resist) similar trends in other scientific disciplines, and their extension to the rest of the world.