Challenge of Biotechnology (Review Paper)

Defence Science Journal

Malcolm R. Dando¹  Graham S. Pearson¹ 

[1] Universrty of Bradford. West Yorkshirr, BD 7 1 DP, UK

关键词: Human Genome Code;    Genetic engineering;    Biological and Toxin weapons convention;   

DOI  :  

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Defence Scientific Information & Documentation Centre

【 摘 要 】

The unravelling of the human genetic codewhose first draft was announced in June 2000 has rightly blood beenhailed as a momentous achievement, opening thc book oflife, certainto be the dominant technology of the 21st century, which will inform allabout medicine and biology. and lead us to a total understanding oflife. Simultaneously, concerns have been expressed about thcimplications of this work. In the past, major new technologies have beenused intensively for hostilepurposes. What is thc challenge thatbiotechnology poses in this regard'?This review paper looks at theenormous changes in civil society that thc genomics revolution couldbring. Against this background,thc growing concerns about itspotential misuses have been reviewed. Thc strengths and weaknesses orthe Biological and ToxinWeapons Convention(BTWC) are then touchedupon. The BTWC presently lacks an adequate verification mechanism.Although biotechnology has been used by human beings since prehistorictimes (eg. making of bread. cheese. wines)its scientific understandingcame only in the latter part of the19th century. Thc decisive turningpoint in the field came in the 1970s with the advent of geneticengineering. In the military context classical agents like anthrax and toxin remain the threat today. Although thc current level orsophistication for many biological agents is low, there is enormouspotential formaking more sophisticated weapons. It might be possibleto specifically target the genetic makeup of differentethnic groups.The limitedvarieties of staple crops and the limited strains of modern animals make agriculture particularly open to attack. Anotherseriouspossibility is the impact of genomics in neuroscience. With a betterunderstanding of cellular receptor systems and bioregulators, it is notinconceivable that new means would be evolved fordisturbing thefunctions of the nervous system. Thc genomics revolution can be used forpeaceful purposes. However, a key requirement is the political will tobring into forcea Protocol to strengthen thc BTWC.

【 授权许可】

Unknown