Biotechnology research in an age of terrorism / Committee on Research Standards and Practices to Prevent the Destructive Application of Biotechnology; Development, Security, and Cooperation Policy and Global Affairs; National Research Council of the National Academies.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Research Standards and Practices to Prevent the Destructive Application of Biotechnology.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Terrorism--Prevention.

Terrorism.

Bioterrorism--Prevention.

Bioterrorism.

Biotechnology.

War on Terrorism, 2001-2009.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (163 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, DC : National Academies Press, c2004.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

In recent years much has happened to justify an examination of biological research in light of national security concerns. The destructive application of biotechnology research includes activities such as spreading common pathogens or transforming them into even more lethal forms. Policymakers and the scientific community at large must put forth a vigorous and immediate response to this challenge. This new book by the National Research Council recommends that the government expand existing regulations and rely on self-governance by scientists rather than adopt intrusive new policies. One key recommendation of the report is that the government should not attempt to regulate scientific publishing but should trust scientists and journals to screen their papers for security risks, a task some journals have already taken up. With biological information and tools widely distributed, regulating only U.S. researchers would have little effect. A new International Forum on Biosecurity should encourage the adoption of similar measures around the world. Seven types of risky studies would require approval by the Institutional Biosafety Committees that already oversee recombinant DNA research at some 400 U.S. institutions. These oeexperiments of concern include making an infectious agent more lethal and rendering vaccines powerless.

Contents:

FrontMatter

Preface

Acknowledgments

Contents

Executive Summary

1 Introduction

2 The Evolving Regulatory Environment for Life Sciences Research in the 21st Century

3 Information Restriction and Control Regimes

4 Conclusions and Recommendations

Appendixes

Appendix A Acronyms

Appendix B Biographical Sketches of Committee Members

Appendix C Committee Meetings.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9786610179565

9780309166874

030916687X

9781280179563

1280179562

9780309526135

0309526132

OCLC:

60365220