Dual-use life science research and biosecurity in the 21st Century: Social, Technical, Policy, and Ethical Challenges

Download or read book Dual-use life science research and biosecurity in the 21st Century: Social, Technical, Policy, and Ethical Challenges written by Jonathan E. Suk and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on 2015-06-04 with total page 97 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In September 2011, scientists announced new experimental findings that would not only threaten the conduct and publication of influenza research, but would have significant policy and intelligence implications. The findings presented a modified variant of the H5N1 avian influenza virus (hereafter referred to as the H5N1 virus) that was transmissible via aerosol between ferrets. These results suggested a worrisome possibility: the existence of a new airborne and highly lethal H5N1 virus that could cause a deadly global pandemic. In response, a series of international discussions on the nature of dual-use life science arose. These discussions addressed the complex social, technical, political, security, and ethical issues related to dual-use research. This Research Topic will be devoted to contributions that explore this matrix of issues from a variety of case study and international perspectives.