Federation of American Scientists Case Studies in Dual Use Biological Research Module 2.0: Poliovirus Case Study
Topic: Discussion Subtopic: Issues and Implications

Discussion on Biological Hazard Images

As a scientist, this experiment or its implications might not seem relevant to your own work because it was a deliberate attempt to make a virus. However, science is not a risk-free enterprise and with advances come accountability and responsibility.

Consider this:

Today, scientists can synthesize a small genome to create a virus. Improved technology will make synthesizing even larger genomes easier and faster. It will soon be possible to splice together genomes from different organisms to create new pathogens, artificial organelles, and even new organisms.

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