Polio<https://www.nature.com/news/2002/020712/full/news020708-17.html> was
synthesized 16 years ago. Today, there are even compiler
toolchains<http://cidarlab.org/cello/> to do it, and
initiatives<http://engineeringbiologycenter.org/> to improve the speed and
reliability of synthesis techniques.
Suppose one could, though data mining of full genome sequences, find a genomic
signature for a predisposition for some objectionable thing. Then one could
conditionally activate of gene edits:
if (signature_found(genome,FEATURE)) {
genome = perform_edit(genome,downregulate_progesterone)
}
FEATURE would vary by interest group, religion, and political party, e.g.
“likely to have same sex attractions” or “prone to tribalism”.
It would all look like an accident. I think it is hard to see how something
like this won’t happen.
Marcus
On 9/15/18, 7:25 AM, "Friam on behalf of Prof David West"
<[email protected] on behalf of [email protected]> wrote:
Evidently we already know how to create organisms from a file:
https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_gibson_how_to_build_synthetic_dna_and_send_it_across_the_internet/transcript?language=en
They did a flu virus vaccine - but it looks like you just as easily print
up some anthrax. (Don't know if this is so, it seems like it from what I have
read, but I am not a biologist.)
Scariest part, it appears that the "printer" is Internet accessible. But,
of course, it is "secured."
And again, of course, what one can build so can another.
If you want some nice science fiction focused on potentially dire (even
existential) consequences from existing tech (hacking/games, drones, CRISPR)
try Daniel Suarez' Daemon and Freedom; Change Agent; and, Kill Decision.
davew
On Fri, Sep 14, 2018, at 2:30 PM, Marcus Daniels wrote:
> < But it's irresponsible to ignore the material cause: guns. But those
> who know me, know I'm an inherent supporter of weapon freedom. Anyone
> ought to be able to own (and use) pretty much any weapon they want. >
>
> Without getting in to the usual arguments of that discussion, my 2-faced
> position (not really) comes with the recent printable gun controversy.
> If someone wants to share a file, who is to say they can't do it? And
> sooner-or-later there will be the possibility of programmable fabricated
> nano-machines or organisms. The gun thing is just the tip of the
> iceberg. The possibly of genocide scale violence initiated by
> individuals or small groups will come with it. What then?
>
> Marcus
>
>
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