TLDR
- Advances in science and AI are making it easier to create dangerous viruses, raising biosecurity concerns.
- A small team recently synthesized a virus from scratch, highlighting the accessibility of this technology.
- Established institutions like the Australia Group play a crucial role in preventing the misuse of AI and biotechnology for harmful purposes.
The world has witnessed unprecedented advancements in chemistry, synthetic biology, and artificial intelligence (AI) in recent years. These innovations, when combined, have ushered in a new era of scientific possibilities. However, with great power comes great responsibility, and one emerging concern is the potential misuse of this convergence of knowledge. The synthesis of viruses, once a task reserved for highly specialized experts, is becoming more accessible, raising concerns about creating deadly pathogens.
A notable turning point
A significant turning point in this arena occurred when a small team of researchers embarked on the de novo synthesis of horsepox, an orthopox virus. Although less pathogenic than smallpox, this virus became a symbol of concern due to the ease with which it was created. The team obtained DNA fragments from a horsepox outbreak in Mongolia in 1976 and constructed the DNA fragments with the help of a DNA synthesis company.
This endeavor marked a “Rubicon in the field of biosecurity,” demons
