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Title:

Is the Availability of Genetic Information Dangerous?

Authors:

Gigi Gronvall, Jens Kuhn, Iris Hunger, Leonid Ryabikhin

Date posted:

February 28, 2008

Publication type:

Meeting report

Publication:

Bull At Sci 8 November 2007 to 28 February 2008

Publisher:

Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Availability:

Available on publisher's website

Introduction:

The genetic information of organisms—as varied as goldfish and geraniums—is widely available to the global public. So are the biologic codes for many viruses, such as variola (which causes smallpox) and poliovirus. The advance of biological technologies that allow for the construction of specific genetic sequences raises the harrowing possibility that someone, somewhere would use available genetic information to unleash a biological attack. The quandary facing scientists in the life sciences is similar to the issues that confronted scientists at the dawn of the nuclear age: Can potentially dangerous knowledge be made secret? Or should it be kept widely available? Below, our four discussants explore the dangers of keeping genetic information public.