"Numerous fictional works have explored the terrifying possibilities of biological weapons and threats, often drawing on real-world concerns about pandemics and bioterrorism ..." as far back as Robert W. Service's 1926 novel The Master of the Microbe.
Sir Martin Rees is right, but he's not identifying anything that has escaped anyone's attention. For many years I've been saying "Thank God, Osama bin Laden didn't know how to use CRISPR."
The most difficult problem with deploying **biological** weapons is how to control their spread --because those who deploy the weapon don't want to be amongst the victims. The Finnish TV series 7 years ago, Arctic Circle (Ivalo) had a plot device that targeted a specific genetic group.
Two months ago, scientists from around the world had a conference on the 50th anniversary of "The Future of Biotechnology" at Asilomar (Pacific Grove, California). As it was 50 years ago, the questions are (1) What can go wrong? and (2) What can/should we do about it?
Both questions remain unanswered. Technological developments have lowered the technological and cost bars to entry. We've created something we cannot control. Oops.
"Numerous fictional works have explored the terrifying possibilities of biological weapons and threats, often drawing on real-world concerns about pandemics and bioterrorism ..." as far back as Robert W. Service's 1926 novel The Master of the Microbe.
Sir Martin Rees is right, but he's not identifying anything that has escaped anyone's attention. For many years I've been saying "Thank God, Osama bin Laden didn't know how to use CRISPR."
The most difficult problem with deploying **biological** weapons is how to control their spread --because those who deploy the weapon don't want to be amongst the victims. The Finnish TV series 7 years ago, Arctic Circle (Ivalo) had a plot device that targeted a specific genetic group.
Two months ago, scientists from around the world had a conference on the 50th anniversary of "The Future of Biotechnology" at Asilomar (Pacific Grove, California). As it was 50 years ago, the questions are (1) What can go wrong? and (2) What can/should we do about it?
Both questions remain unanswered. Technological developments have lowered the technological and cost bars to entry. We've created something we cannot control. Oops.