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Synthetic Biology May Spawn Biohackers

Posted by michael on from the zergling dept.

nusratt writes "EE Times reports 'Design automation systems tailored to the task of genetic engineering . . . can lead to the accidental or deliberate creation of pathogenic biological components.' Design of molecular machines is analogous to doing system-on-chip work, and hackers 'will not need a detailed knowledge of biochemistry to effectively create complex biochemical machines.' A Harvard genetics professor says, 'Even if we don't have bioterrorists and teen-age biohackers, we will still create things that do not have the properties that we thought they would . . . Even if you are genetically resistant and recently immunized, you will have problems with artificial biological agents.' He also says that there are two big differences between this risk and nuclear weapons: (1) building weapons is harder; (2) synth-bio work is more accident-prone. Oh great, just great: script-kiddies with smallpox . . ."

7 of 320 comments (clear)

  1. Sudan by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    I was wondering if my fellow lefties can help me out here. As you are aware, there is currently a huge humanitarian crisis in Sudan. Some would even call it genocide. I have no problem with that. But what I can't seem to figure out is how the United States is to blame, as we usually are at fault.

    Please advise. Thx.

    1. Re:Sudan by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      Wow. You are telling me I can have it both ways. Thx!

    2. Re:Sudan by foidulus · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      Heh, well just remember if the US was only interested in it's own affairs, Mexico would control Texas and California, Native Americans would still rule most of the midwest, Cuba would be a Spanish colony, and Canada may very well have been a province of Cuba. If you look at American history, America has done nothing but get involved in affairs people though it had no business getting involved in.... something to think about.

  2. Outlaw Science! by PktLoss · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    This is the #1 reason we should outlaw science and start living off the land again. Seriously, study anthrapology, hunter gatherers have more free time and are generally happier than us.

    --
    paul reinheimer
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