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DNA Sequence Withheld From New Botulism Paper

Posted by timothy on from the keep-your-genes-zipped dept.

New submitter rex.clts writes "In the IT security world, it is common practice to withhold specifics when announcing a newly discovered software vulnerability. The exact details regarding a buffer overflow or race condition are typically kept secret until a patch is available, to slow the proliferation of exploits against the hole. For the first time, this practice has been extended to medical publishing. A new form of Botulism has been identified, but its DNA sequence (the genetic code that makes up the toxin) has been withheld, until an antidote has been found. It seems that censorship in the name of "security" is spreading (with DHS involved this comes as no surprise.) Is this the right move?"

3 of 182 comments (clear)

  1. Terrists by game+kid · · Score: 3, Funny

    Good call! Wouldn't want those highly advanced scientists at al-Qaeda to reproduce it at the gene level or anything.

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    You can hold down the "B" button for continuous firing.
  2. Hypocrite. by TheMiddleRoad · · Score: 5, Funny

    "When has with holding information 'ever' been the right move?"

    Says the anonymous coward.

    How small is your penis and what are your email and password?

  3. Re:I know the scientist... by Required+Snark · · Score: 2, Funny
    What about the babies? When you're trying to panic the masses, there is nothing like the combination of "dead" and "babies".

    So a quick edit.

    Maybe readers will like to see a few million dead babies?

    See, isn't that much more hysterical? Now you need to learn HOW TO USE THE CAP LOCK KEY.

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    Why is Snark Required?