FC: Scientists create polio virus, politicos weigh regulations

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

[From the FAS Project on Government Secrecy (fas.org)... --Declan]

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SYNTHESIS OF POLIOVIRUS FUELS DEBATE

The synthesis of infectious poliovirus from mail-ordered chemical
components, newly accomplished by Pentagon-funded scientists and
reported in Science Magazine online yesterday, is renewing a simmering
debate about whether limits are needed on the conduct or publication
of scientific research and, if so, who should define those limits.

The scientists described the methodology that they used to assemble the
virus in Science Magazine here:

     http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/1072266/DC1

Some initial reactions to the announcement were reported in "Scientists
Create a Live Polio Virus" by Andrew Pollack in the New York Times
here:

     http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/12/science/12POLI.html

Anticipating controversy, lead author Jeronimo Cello defended
publication of the virus paper on grounds that "By releasing this, you
alert the authorities... [to] what bioterrorists could do."  For
obvious reasons, this is not a very persuasive argument.

Penrose Albright, Senior Director for Research and Development at the
White House Office of Homeland Security, said in May that his Office
had "spent many hours" considering whether and how to seek limitations
on scientific research relating to weapons of mass destruction, but
had made little progress.

"We look to the scientific community" to define appropriate criteria
and procedures, Dr. Albright said.  The unstated implication was that
if the scientific community does not somehow rise to the challenge,
then government will eventually intervene in some clumsy fashion,
particularly if there are new indications that terrorists pursuing
these technologies.

One post-September 11 restriction on biological research is a new
requirement, enacted in the recent Bioterrorism Preparedness Act, to
notify the government of the possession of certain highly lethal
biological agents and toxins.  Draft guidance for providing such
notification was published in the Federal Register today.  See:

     http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/2002/07/fr071202.html 




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