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A Federal Ban On Making Lethal Viruses Is Lifted (nytimes.com)
schwit1 shares a report from The New York Times (Warning: source may be paywalled; alternative source): Federal officials on Tuesday ended a moratorium imposed three years ago on funding research that alters germs to make them more lethal. Such work can now proceed, said Dr. Francis S. Collins, the head of the National Institutes of Health, but only if a scientific panel decides that the benefits justify the risks. Some scientists are eager to pursue these studies because they may show, for example, how a bird flu could mutate to more easily infect humans, or could yield clues to making a better vaccine.
Critics say these researchers risk creating a monster germ that could escape the lab and seed a pandemic. Now, a government panel will require that researchers show that their studies in this area are scientifically sound and that they will be done in a high-security lab. The pathogen to be modified must pose a serious health threat, and the work must produce knowledge -- such as a vaccine -- that would benefit humans. Finally, there must be no safer way to do the research. "We see this as a rigorous policy," Dr. Collins said. "We want to be sure we're doing this right." "Now where are those twelve monkeys?" adds schwit1.
Critics say these researchers risk creating a monster germ that could escape the lab and seed a pandemic. Now, a government panel will require that researchers show that their studies in this area are scientifically sound and that they will be done in a high-security lab. The pathogen to be modified must pose a serious health threat, and the work must produce knowledge -- such as a vaccine -- that would benefit humans. Finally, there must be no safer way to do the research. "We see this as a rigorous policy," Dr. Collins said. "We want to be sure we're doing this right." "Now where are those twelve monkeys?" adds schwit1.
Who else thinks this lab should be located somewhere isolated like Antartica, Assencion Island or middle of a very desolate desert ?
Someplace where the risk of "12 monkeys" exposure disasters are minimized.
I really don't like the lab located in an area with an active civilian population and scientists that go home every night.
We get enough exposure to the new flu strains from having school age children in the family, without a better engineered killer version possible.
Germ & chemical warfare is morally & ethically bankrupt.
nuclear warfare is just environmentally stupid.
The rest of the world didn't care about the ban, and neither would domestic terrorists, so it's not really like we're any less safe than before. This should, in theory, allow us to find the "low-hanging fruit" as far as lethal modifications is concerned. Since that's very likely where malicious actors would look, we should be looking too. Only then can we plan a defense against them.
How is the Riemann zeta function like Trump rallies? Both have an endless number of trivial zeros.
There is scientific research and then there is outright stupidity
Wouldn't "outright stupidity" be tying scientists hands so they were unable to study things like extremely contagious bird flu well before it ever reaches the U.S. as an epidemic?
You seriously need to read up on the conditions under which this is allowed, and why they are allowing it.
Under your doctrine the U.S. would eventually have an unstoppable epidemic of some kind; under the rule change we may have a chance to stop it.
I think I saw a tweet once to the effect of "If Trump cured cancer, Trump Haters would back cancer". Apparently that was a prescient thought, as you seem to be on the side of sticking our heads in the sand and waiting for the virus to come for us.
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