The potential for abuse of genetics in militarily significant biological weapons

Concern has been expressed at successive Review Conferences of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) regarding the possible misuse of new biological knowledge; this article reviews some of these developments. Genetic manipulation, and genomics in particular, would modify existing pathog...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Medicine, conflict, and survival conflict, and survival, 2002-04, Vol.18 (2), p.138-156
Main Authors: Whitby, Simon, Millett, Piers, Dando, Malcolm
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arms limitation
Bioethics
Biological warfare
Biological Warfare - trends
Biological weapons
Biotechnology
Biotechnology - trends
Conflict
Ethics
Fungi
Fungi - genetics
Genetic research
Genetic Vectors - physiology
Genetics
Genomics
Genomics - trends
Health
Humans
Inspection
International Cooperation
Military applications
Military research
Military Science
Morality
Science
Scientific research
Treaties
Viruses
Viruses - genetics
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Concern has been expressed at successive Review Conferences of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) regarding the possible misuse of new biological knowledge; this article reviews some of these developments. Genetic manipulation, and genomics in particular, would modify existing pathogens and render previously harmless organisms pathogenic. Viruses could be modified as vectors to alter their pathogenicity in animals and man or act as carriers for genes or toxins. Plant pathogens, particularly fungi, could be modified as biological warfare agents against crops. An effective verification protocol for the BTWC is an essential part of the web of deterrence against these developments.
ISSN:1362-3699
1743-9396
DOI:10.1080/13623690208409620