Dual-use life science research and biosecurity in the 21st Century: Social, Technical, Policy, and Ethical Challenges
Author: Jonathan E. Suk
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Published: 2015-06-04
Total Pages: 97
ISBN-13: 2889195686
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →In September 2011, scientists announced new experimental findings that would not only threaten the conduct and publication of influenza research, but would have significant policy and intelligence implications. The findings presented a modified variant of the H5N1 avian influenza virus (hereafter referred to as the H5N1 virus) that was transmissible via aerosol between ferrets. These results suggested a worrisome possibility: the existence of a new airborne and highly lethal H5N1 virus that could cause a deadly global pandemic. In response, a series of international discussions on the nature of dual-use life science arose. These discussions addressed the complex social, technical, political, security, and ethical issues related to dual-use research. This Research Topic will be devoted to contributions that explore this matrix of issues from a variety of case study and international perspectives.