An International Perspective on Advancing Technologies and Strategies for Managing Dual-Use Risks Report of a Workshop (2005) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
4 Emerging and Converging Technologies
4 Emerging and Converging Technologies
Pages 57-72
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 57... ...
As highlighted during the workshop, prominent among these are advances in knowledge and delivery technology that have increased the dual-use potential and risk of non-lethal bioregulators; and the convergence of nanotechnology and biotechnology in the form of DNA nanotechnology. 1This section is based on the workshop presentations of Kathryn Nixdorff and Elliott Kagan.
|
From page 58... ...
to affect the human body in targeted, insidious ways. A controversial issue that arose from these discussions is how all research on immune system evasion could be considered potentially dangerous, thus highlighting the very important need to uphold the norms of the Biological Weapons Convention.
|
From page 59... ...
However, new knowledge and advancing technologies, particularly delivery technologies, have raised concerns about the dual-use risk of bioregulators. Potential delivery platforms include the use of bacterial plasmids or viral vectors for cloning the genes that encode bioregulators; the use of transgenic insects (i.e., to secrete and inoculate the bioregulators)
|
From page 60... ...
NOTE: Adapted from Elliott Kagan's PowerPoint presentation, September 22, 2004.
|
From page 61... ...
· Future potential as threat agents will parallel advances in biotechnology. Bioregulators have been used in prior state-sponsored bioweapons programs, including South Africa's Project Coast, which included a peptide synthesis program aimed at enhancing the effects of certain bioregulators (see Chapter 3)
|
From page 62... ...
62 TECHNOLOGIES AND STRATEGIES FOR MANAGING DUAL-USE RISKS The Vulnerability of the Immune System8 The immune system plays a crucial role in protection against infectious disease. The immune system is particularly vulnerable to the numerous evasion strategies that microorganisms utilize; as the development of a lethal form of the mousepox virus by Australian scientists in 2001 demonstrated, the manipulation of microorganisms can lead to the creation of mechanisms to evade the immune system in devastating ways.9 The immune system is also vulnerable to modulation by bioregulators.
|
From page 63... ...
EMERGING AND CONVERGING TECHNOLOGIES 63 TLRs are already commercially available. For example, imiquimod is an immune response modifier typically prescribed for genital warts and some skin cancers; it stimulates TLR7, a key antiviral TLR.
|
From page 64... ...
The most successful biological self-assembler is, of course, the DNA double helix. In their quest to emulate these biological phenomena, scientists have 13 This section is based on the workshop presentation of Nadrian Seeman.
|
From page 65... ...
EMERGING AND CONVERGING TECHNOLOGIES 65 created the field of DNA nanotechnology,18 as well as the closely related field of DNA-based computation by algorithmic self-assembly.19 DNA nanotechnology is the design and development of objects, lattices, and devices made of synthetic DNA. Since the DNA helix is naturally linear (i.e., unbranched)
|
From page 66... ...
66 TECHNOLOGIES AND STRATEGIES FOR MANAGING DUAL-USE RISKS The primary difference between nanomechanical devices and selfreplicating systems is that the former are "clocked" devices, meaning that someone (a person or robot, as the case may be) has to do something in order for the nano-device to operate.
|
From page 67... ...
EMERGING AND CONVERGING TECHNOLOGIES 67 CONVERGING TECHNOLOGIES22 Some experts consider the convergence of bio-, nano-, and information technologies, along with the neuro- and cognitive sciences, will enable humans to do things never dreamt of until now (see Figure 4-2)
|
From page 68... ...
NOTE: Adapted from Michael Morgan's PowerPoint presentation, September 22, 2004. · Unlimited reach: As the convergence continues to draw in new technologies and technology-enabling sciences, it would appear that nothing can escape the reach of CTs and that the mind, social interactions, communication, and emotional states can all be engineered.
|
From page 69... ...
Nonetheless, the intent exists. The very uncertainty about these capabilities may lead to a new, highly unstructured and non-negotiable arms race.
|
From page 70... ...
70 TECHNOLOGIES AND STRATEGIES FOR MANAGING DUAL-USE RISKS might ever reach a point where it would simply be unacceptable as a form of warfare. It was suggested that issues of arms regulation associated with emerging and converging technologies be addressed in an international forum, with an insistence on unambiguous adherence to international agreements.
|
From page 71... ...
. It was suggested that the idea of a societal observatory could arguably be a piece of the "web of prevention" that some workshop participants said will be necessary for managing the dual-use risk of advancing technologies, as described in Chapter 5.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.