A brave new world in the life sciences

Choffnes, E. R.; Lemon, Stanley M.; Relman, David A.

doi:10.2968/062005009

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…[8][9][10][11] Bacterial and viral genes, as well as genomes, can be synthesized at a cost of less than $0.60 per base pair. Since this price will continue to decrease by a factor of 2 every year, the synthesis of the Ebola hemorrhagic virus genome will potentially decrease from $12,000 to less than $4,000 by 2011.…”

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confidence: 99%

Bioinformatics for Biodefense: Challenges and Opportunities

Valdivia-Granda¹

2010

Biosecurity and Bioterrorism: Biodefense Strategy, Practice, an

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The intentional release of traditional or combinatorial bioweapons remains one of the most important challenges that will continue to shape homeland security. The misuse of dual-use and how-to methods and techniques in the fields of molecular, synthetic, and computational biology can lessen the technical barriers for launching attacks, even for small groups or individuals. Bioinformatics is guiding the implementation of several biodefense countermeasures. However, existing algorithms have not effectively translated available pathogen genomic data into standardized diagnostics, rational vaccine development, or broad spectrum therapeutics. Despite its potential, bioinformatics has a limited impact on forensic and intelligence operations. More than 12 biodefense databases and information exchange architectures lack interoperability and a common layer that restricts scalability and the development of biodefense enterprises. Therefore, in order to use next-generation genome sequencing for medical intelligence, forensic operations, biothreat awareness, and mitigation, the attention has to be redirected toward the development of computational biology applications. This article debates some of the challenges that the bioinformatics field confronts in terms of biodefense problems and proposes potential opportunities to use pathogen genomic data. Issues related to the analysis of pathogen genomes and emerging methods including genomic barcoding, active curation, and knowledge management and their impact on intelligence, forensics, and policymaking are discussed.

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confidence: 99%

Bioinformatics for Biodefense: Challenges and Opportunities

Valdivia-Granda¹

2010

Biosecurity and Bioterrorism: Biodefense Strategy, Practice, an

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“…Other dystopian stories about bioweapons threats have also played powerful roles in shaping intelligence and policy. 2 Scientists, biosecurity experts, and intelligence and policy officials drawing on these plot lines have often emphasized how advances in the life sciences will lead to revolutionary changes in the power of biotechnology, its applications, and its potential bioweapons threats (Block, 1999;Bowman et al, 2011;Brent, 2006;Carlson, 2003;Central Intelligence Agency, 2003;Choffnes et al, 2006;Commission, 2005;Dando, 2010;Danzig, 2003;Epstein, 2005;Institute of Medicine and National Research Council, 2006;Nouri and Chyba, 2009;Petro et al, 2003). In recent years, the US intelligence community has focused increasing attention and resources on assessing these emerging biotechnology threats (Bhattacharjee, 2007;Central Intelligence Agency, 2003;Commission, 2005;National Intelligence Council, 2004).…”

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confidence: 99%

Intelligent assessment: Putting emerging biotechnology threats in context

Vogel¹

2013

Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

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One of the problems with assessing the emerging threats from advances in biotechnology and the life sciences is that there are two competing narratives for understanding biotechnology development: one based on the notion of a biotech revolution and the other based on biotech evolution. The biotech revolution is a dystopian tale in which scientific advances lead to rapid changes in biotechnology, its applications, and its potential threats. The biotech evolution, however, describes slower and more complex trajectories for biotechnology development and threats. These two narratives are based on different assumptions and analytic methods, which lead to fundamentally different conclusions. The US intelligence and policy communities use the biotech revolution story line to make sense of todayÕs bioweapons threats, but this approach fails to reflect the complex social, economic, scientific, and technical factors that shape biotechnology and life science developments. The author argues that more critical perspectives on biotechnology are needed in order to improve intelligence assessments of present and future bioweapons threats and policy regarding them.

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Biotechnology and Bioterrorism

Zilinskas¹,

Dando²,

Nixdorff³

2011

Encyclopedia of Bioterrorism Defense

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Advances in modern biotechnology may have a significant impact on how biological weapons are acquired, produced, and delivered. Of the three major components that constitute a biological weapon—agent payload, munition, and dispersal mechanism—the techniques of modern biotechnology have most applications for agents. Techniques that may be applicable to the weaponization of pathogens and toxins include genetic engineering, DNA technologies, protein engineering, functional genomics, artificial viruses, and systems biology. These techniques might be applied to enhance one or more of the five characteristics or traits of microorganisms and toxins considered important for weaponization: hardiness, resistance, infectivity, pathogenicity, and detection avoidance. However, although the barriers to applying the advanced biotechnologies for nefarious purposes continue to drop, it must be realized that substantial expertise is required to perform R&D to achieve complicated weapons objectives; expertise that is not available by far to most terrorist groups.

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A brave new world in the life sciences

Abstract: The breadth of biological threats is much broader than commonly thought and will continue to expand.

Cited by 5 publications

References 9 publications

Bioinformatics for Biodefense: Challenges and Opportunities

Bioinformatics for Biodefense: Challenges and Opportunities

Intelligent assessment: Putting emerging biotechnology threats in context

Biotechnology and Bioterrorism

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