Question

Rapid advances in the field of molecular and cellular biology have unwillingly unleashed the potential for creating viruses and bacteria more virulent than nature's worst. In the summer of 2002, Researchers at the State University of New York at Stony Brook described the first de novo biochemical synthesis of a virus, based on published gene sequence information and using "off the shelf" commercially available DNA material. After they pieced together genetic sequences to form a full-length poliovirus, they successfully replicated and translated this material cell-free in test tubes. The resulting nucleic acids and proteins were then able to assemble spontaneously into fully infectious viral agents. The scientists began their work from genetic blueprints that exist in the public domain, that is, in published journal articles and on internet databases. The ability to manufacture an infectious agent from scratch using preexisting, published knowledge is an unsettling development. The theoretical possibility that current knowledge could permit the creation of potential agents of biological warfare generated intense media interest around the world. As a result of studies like that at Stony Brook, an ethical debate has arisen over whether such research should be pursued, and if so, whether the details of such research should be published. Some argue that the pursuit and publication of such research unwittingly aids would-be terrorists; others argue that the dissemination of information is necessary for the effective sharing of research within the scientific community and for science to progress.

In 250-300 words, explain which side of the debate you support and why (TYPE ANSWER PLEASE).

Answer 1

In the threat of bioterrorism or biological warfare we cannot stop science from progressing forward. The main purpose of science is to benefit the human beings living on the earth. This is true that after 1980, many cases of bioterrorism have occured and this is a weapon of mass destruction, but science have also helped in countering these biological warfare by developing many antimicrobial compounds like antivirus and antibiotics. Whole science cannot be done by one individual or even by one country. This has to be share among many scientists, to progress further. Ebola outbreak in african countries was natural and was not the case of bioterrorism. But, because of sharing of knowledge or research which helped us in countering against ebola or birdflu viruses which took away many life. Synthesis of viruses in the lab helps scientists to prepare many antiviral compounds or vaccines which protect us in the future against the natural outbreak of the dangerous infectious diseases. Recently, the CRISPR/Cas system has emerged as a promising technique for gene editing. It was hailed by The Washington Post as "the most important innovation in the synthetic biology space in nearly 30 years. While other methods like RNA interference of Tilling take months or years to edit gene sequences, CRISPR speeds that time up to weeks and helps in treating many genetic diseases in human beings which were due to mutation in some genes. However, due to its ease of use and accessibility, it has raised a number of ethical concerns, especially surrounding its use in the biohacking space. Even drugs which treat many diseases like cancers have side effects, but even we accept those drugs to become healthy. To detect bioloical agents researchers have developed a different device called the BioPen. There is law like customary international humanitarian law and treaties among various countries which prohibit the use of biological weapons. For betterment of the society, science have to progress further along with possible ethical norms.