Biotechnology in defence (Review Paper)

Defence Science Journal

T. Lazar Mathew¹ 

[1] Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Allied Sciences, Delhi

关键词: Biotechnology;    Bioweapons;    Human cloning;    Biological warfare;    Chemical warfare;    Genetic engineering;    Biosensors;    Recombinant DNA technology;   

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 】

Biotechnology, in its present perspective,encompasses activities, such as recombination of genes; cloning, ormaking genetically identical copies of a living thing; and splicing ofgenes from DNA of one organism into the genome of unrelated species, tocreate new, self-reproducing forms of life. The vast potential ofbiotechnology is being increasingly realised, and efforts are inprogress to harness it for improving quality and quantity ofbio-weapons, The bio-weapons, as such, are highly attractive because oftheir non-detection by routine security systems, ease of access, lowproduction cost and easy transportation, A wide range of geneticallymanipulated organisms and their by-products are considered to have anadded advantage, because these genetically manipulated biologics notonly accentuate the existing properties of bio-weapons, but also couldbe made target-specific. Biotechnology, if used prudently, can play asignificant role to counter such threats of biologics, viz., byproducing (i) bio-armoury comprising powerful antibiotics, antiseratoxoids and vaccines to neutralise and eliminate a wide range ofdiseases, and (ii) bio-sensors for rapid detection, identification andneutralisation of biological warfare agents. This article elucidatessome facets of biological warfare, legal protective strategiesemphasised through international consultation, cooperation and adherenceto the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, and discusses howbiotechnology could be effectively used to strengthen countries' defenceand combat the threat of biological warfare.

【 授权许可】

Unknown