Full Version: Ethnic Weapons
QUOTE
Biological and genetic weapons designed to kill
specific ethnic or racial groups are no longer the stuff of science
fiction, British researchers said Thursday.
A designer plague that would only kill Serbs or a toxin engineered to
affect Israelis or Kurds does not exist yet but advances in biotechnology
and the mapping of all human genes could be misused to develop lethal
weapons within five to 10 years.
<...>
The designer weapon works on a similar principle to gene therapy but
instead of replacing faulty genes that don't work it exploits genetic
variations to target its victims.
For example, micro-organisms could be genetically engineered to attack
known receptor sites on the cell membrane or viruses could be targeted at
specific DNA sequences inside cells.
(Source: Biological "Ethnic" Weapons Loom on the Horizon)
specific ethnic or racial groups are no longer the stuff of science
fiction, British researchers said Thursday.
A designer plague that would only kill Serbs or a toxin engineered to
affect Israelis or Kurds does not exist yet but advances in biotechnology
and the mapping of all human genes could be misused to develop lethal
weapons within five to 10 years.
<...>
The designer weapon works on a similar principle to gene therapy but
instead of replacing faulty genes that don't work it exploits genetic
variations to target its victims.
For example, micro-organisms could be genetically engineered to attack
known receptor sites on the cell membrane or viruses could be targeted at
specific DNA sequences inside cells.
(Source: Biological "Ethnic" Weapons Loom on the Horizon)
Topics:
Is the threat of ethnically targeted bio-weapons a real concern?
Would terrorists want these types of weapons?
What could be done to combat this threat?
Is the threat of ethnically targeted bio-weapons a real concern? The article you linked to is five years old. They projected that these weapons would likely be available within five to ten years. So, they must be here, or just around the corner. 
Please. 
I think the technology to create specific biotoxins in sufficient quantity to kill just one race of individuals is far, far away.
Please. I think the technology to create specific biotoxins in sufficient quantity to kill just one race of individuals is far, far away.
Is the threat of ethnically targeted bio-weapons a real concern?
They cannot be a threat if they don't exist.
Would terrorists want these types of weapons?
Not necessarily. The deadliest BW agents as they stand today are remarkably indiscriminatory. Unleashing a plague upon the world is just as likely to kill those who released the agent as it is the intended victims. Chemical weapons have much less risk and still can have a truly horrible impact upon the target.
Besides, any supposed "ethnic" BW agent would target genetically distinctive groups of human beings. Those still fall into pretty broad categories. Jews are not genetically distinctive from Muslims or Christians, in general terms. There is no gene for religion. Neither are most Serbs genetically distinct from Croats or the mass of Kurds from Turks or Arabs. Even given the advances made in the Human Genome Diversity Project, the science required to engineer such weapons is mind-boggling.
What could be done to combat this threat?
Since the threat does not exist, there is no need for anything to be done to address it specifically. Continuing efforts towards international cooperation on biological security and the control of existing BW and potential BW is what is needed, now as always.
They cannot be a threat if they don't exist.
Would terrorists want these types of weapons?
Not necessarily. The deadliest BW agents as they stand today are remarkably indiscriminatory. Unleashing a plague upon the world is just as likely to kill those who released the agent as it is the intended victims. Chemical weapons have much less risk and still can have a truly horrible impact upon the target.
Besides, any supposed "ethnic" BW agent would target genetically distinctive groups of human beings. Those still fall into pretty broad categories. Jews are not genetically distinctive from Muslims or Christians, in general terms. There is no gene for religion. Neither are most Serbs genetically distinct from Croats or the mass of Kurds from Turks or Arabs. Even given the advances made in the Human Genome Diversity Project, the science required to engineer such weapons is mind-boggling.
What could be done to combat this threat?
Since the threat does not exist, there is no need for anything to be done to address it specifically. Continuing efforts towards international cooperation on biological security and the control of existing BW and potential BW is what is needed, now as always.
There aren't enough differences in DNA to distinguish between ethnicities. Seperate ethnic groups have only been around for a few thousand years, it takes far longer to develop genetic differences that we could notice with todays' science.
And from the way global society is progressing and increased intermarriages, I would expect any genetic differences (on the 'ethnic level') to decrease over future generations, given that very few groups nowadays completely cut themselves off from outsiders.
This article greatly exaggerates our capability to distinguish between people on the basis of 'race' - as 'race' tends to be a very blurry term anyway.
And from the way global society is progressing and increased intermarriages, I would expect any genetic differences (on the 'ethnic level') to decrease over future generations, given that very few groups nowadays completely cut themselves off from outsiders.
This article greatly exaggerates our capability to distinguish between people on the basis of 'race' - as 'race' tends to be a very blurry term anyway.
Is the threat of ethnically targeted bio-weapons a real concern?
Probably in the distant future.
Would terrorists want these types of weapons?
Our CIA definately would, I don't know about other terrorist groups.
What could be done to combat this threat?
I don't know.
Let me add that, if it could be targeted to an ethnicity, it could be targeted to an individual's DNA. Imagine, someone decides they don't like you. They get your DNA (maybe from a database, maybe from an envelope you licked a few years ago), and then they hire an assassin to create your death in a lab. Personalized just for you.
It would make a neat sci-fi story, actually. If someone hasn't already done it.
Sure would be no fun in real life, though.
Probably in the distant future.
Would terrorists want these types of weapons?
Our CIA definately would, I don't know about other terrorist groups.
What could be done to combat this threat?
I don't know.
Let me add that, if it could be targeted to an ethnicity, it could be targeted to an individual's DNA. Imagine, someone decides they don't like you. They get your DNA (maybe from a database, maybe from an envelope you licked a few years ago), and then they hire an assassin to create your death in a lab. Personalized just for you.
It would make a neat sci-fi story, actually. If someone hasn't already done it.
Sure would be no fun in real life, though.
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