[Paleo Conservative]

I couldn't post the whole article that was published in yesterday's The Guardian, so I am excerpting it here in the first comment.

Tighter laws needed on sale of DNA samples, says research chief

James Randerson, science correspondent
Thursday June 15, 2006
The Guardian

One of the country's leading scientists yesterday called on the government to draw up new laws to regulate companies that sell DNA samples which could be used to manufacture a biological weapon.

Colin Blakemore, chief executive of the Medical Research Council, said foolproof protection was needed to prevent potentially dangerous material getting into the wrong hands. His comments were endorsed by other senior scientists and follow a Guardian investigation that revealed the ease with which a potential terrorist could buy such materials on the internet. The Guardian was able to order a small fragment of DNA from the variola virus, the virus that causes smallpox.

"It is obviously a worry that fragments of a potentially very dangerous pathogen can be obtained as easily as your investigation suggests," said Professor Blakemore. "This is one area where legislation or new regulation might be appropriate."

Article continues

[Paleo Conservative]

Mega Ping!

[Sola Veritas]

"Although not a task that could be performed by one person acting alone, a wellfunded terrorist organisation with access to a lab and PhDlevel personnel could do it."

It would take more than that to "assemble" a smallpox virus. However, if some of the "sequences" available for purchase were for genes coding for virulence factors. Then it might be feasible to use them to recombine with other viruses and other microbes to make something different.

However, I will speculate that the DNA "sequences" that can be purchased are those that code for the viruses protein capsid, which is what is needed to make vaccines. Capsid proteins does not a virus make.

If one wants to be afraid of biowarfare, then I would say they are wise. However, fear something that is a true concern. I suggest reading Judith Miller's book "Germs."

[NonValueAdded]

Stephen Hawkins was spot on.

[escapefromboston]

john titor was right!!!!!!!

[stacytec]

I would think that it would be easier and cheaper to just build a nuke. Replicating DNA from a map isn't exactly like building a model airplane, even with a team of geneticists and a how-to manual.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

One of the country's leading scientists yesterday called on the government to draw up new laws to regulate companies that sell DNA samples which could be used to manufacture a biological weapon.

Genjiie is already out of the bottle.