Research Catalog

Title

Biodefense in the age of synthetic biology / Committee on Strategies for Identifying and Addressing Potential Biodenfense Vulnerabilities Posed by Synthetic Biology, Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology, Board on Life Sciences, Division on Earth and Life Studies, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, Medicine.

Author

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (U.S.). Committee on Strategies for Identifying and Addressing Potential Biodenfense Vulnerabilities Posed by Synthetic Biology, author. http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/aut

Publication

• Washington, DC : National Academies Press, [2018]
• ©2018

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

United States. Department of Defense, commissioning body.

Description

xii, 176 pages : graphs; 28 cm

Summary

"Scientific advances over the past several decades have accelerated the ability to engineer existing organisms and to potentially create novel ones not found in nature. Synthetic biology, which collectively refers to concepts, approaches, and tools that enable the modification or creation of biological organisms, is being pursued overwhelmingly for beneficial purposes ranging from reducing the burden of disease to improving agricultural yields to remediating pollution. Although the contributions synthetic biology can make in these and other areas hold great promise, it is also possible to imagine malicious uses that could threaten U.S. citizens and military personnel. Making informed decisions about how to address such concerns requires a realistic assessment of the capabilities that could be misused. To that end, the U.S. Department of Defense, working with other agencies involved in biodefense, asked the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to develop a framework to guide an assessment of the security concerns related to advances in synthetic biology, to assess the levels of concern warranted for such advances, and to identify options that could help mitigate those concerns"--Summary.

Subjects

• Biomedical Engineering
• Bioethics
• Synthetic Biology > ethics
• Biomedical engineering
• Synthetic biology > Security measures
• Synthetic biology > Moral and ethical aspects

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references.

Contents

Introduction -- Biotechnology in the age of synthetic biology -- Framework for assessing concern about synthetic biology capabilities -- Assessment of concerns related to pathogens -- Assessment of concerns related to production of chemicals or biochemicals -- Assessment of concerns related to bioweapons that alter the human host -- Related developments that may impact the ability to effect an attack using a synthetic biology-enabled weapon -- Options for mitigating concerns -- Moving forward: conclusions and recommendations -- References -- Appendices. Specific synthetic biology concepts, approaches, and tools -- Selected prior analyses used to inform the framework -- Questions to stimulate consideration of framework factors -- Committee biographies -- Disclosure of conflict of interest -- Study methods.

ISBN

• 9780309465182
• 0309465184
• 9780309465199 (canceled/invalid)
• 0309465192 (canceled/invalid)

OCLC

• on1044555609
• 1044555609
• SCSB-9304858

Owning Institutions

Columbia University Libraries