Open AccessThe Creation of a Contagious H5N1 Influenza Virus: Implications for the Education of Life Scientists
Author(s) -
Tatyaovossiolova,
Masamichi Minehata,
Malcolm Dando
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of terrorism research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2049-7040
DOI - 10.15664/jtr.417
Subject(s) - context (archaeology) , life span , influenza a virus subtype h5n1 , biological warfare , convention , avian influenza virus , order (exchange) , political science , law and economics , environmental ethics , sociology , virology , biology , law , virus , business , philosophy , paleontology , finance , evolutionary biology
The paper contends that the ongoing controversy surrounding the creation of a contagious H5N1 influenza virus has already exposed the severe limitations of the possibility of preventing the hostile misuse of the life sciences by dint of oversight of proposals and publications. It further argues that in order to prevent the potential wholesale militarisation of the life sciences, it is essential that life scientists become aware of their responsibilities within the context of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) and actively contribute their expertise to strengthening the biological weapons non-proliferation regime .