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Abstract
Developments in science and technology are potentially relevant to the scope of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), as well as to its operation and implementation. At the upcoming Seventh Review Conference in December this year, three basic trends are likely to play a part: the rapid pace of relevant advances in science and technology; the global diffusion of science and technology research and its applications; and the breadth of fields now engaged in the “life sciences.” Continued engagement of the scientific community, the authors write, will be important for monitoring ongoing developments in science and technology and for contributing to assessments on the implications of these developments for the BWC. Sustained engagement will enable the Convention to anticipate and respond more effectively to the challenges and opportunities offered by the continuing advances in science and technology.
Notes
Notes
1 The other two were the more traditional issues of achieving universal membership and promotion of assistance and cooperation to achieve the peaceful benefits of biology.
2 Many of the presentations and materials from the meetings are posted on the BWC’s website, www.unog.ch/BWC.
3 The assessments for the first and second CWC review conferences were conducted by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry at the request of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (CitationBalali-Mood et al., 2008; CitationIUPAC, 2002). Less formally, in 2006 the IAP: The Global Network of Science Academies (formerly the InterAcademy Panel on International Issues), the International Council for Science, and the Royal Society organized a workshop intended to inform the BWC Sixth Review Conference (CitationRoyal Society, 2006).
4 The international organizations were IAP: The Global Network of Science Academies, the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and the International Union of Microbiological Societies. The agenda, participants list, and copies of some of the PowerPoint slides used by the speakers are available at: dels.nas.edu/Past-Events/Trends-Science-Techno logy-Relevant/DELS-BLS-09-06.
5 A more detailed final report, prepared by an international committee under the auspices of the NRC, will be available in early summer 2011; it will assess the implications of the developments and offer the committee’s findings and conclusions.
6 The full list of understandings may be found at: www.unog.ch/80256EDD006B8954/(httpAssets)/66E5525B50871CAEC1257188003BDDD6/$file/BWC_Text_Additional_Understandings.pdf, accessed March 4, 2011.
7 These are drawn from the NRC workshop summary, as well as other sources.
8 Moore’s Law is attributed to Gordon Moore, the founder of Intel Corporation. The Carlson Curves reflect the analysis by physicist turned biotechnology expert Robert Carlson.
9 Just one example of this trend was discussed by Pawan Dhar of the Centre for Systems and Synthetic Biology at the University of Kerala in India, who described the growing interest in synthetic biology in that country (CitationDhar, 2010). As part of its outreach activities, the center organized Biodesign India in 2010, the first synthetic biology conference held in the country, and has created a wiki to provide an open access resource to encourage the sharing of information among laboratories engaged in synthetic biology research. The increasing global diffusion of synthetic biology can also be seen in the International Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM) competition, which features teams of university students from around the world undertaking synthetic biology projects. The grand prize in 2010 was won by a team from Slovenia and the first runner-up was a team from China (ung.igem.org).
10 Protein folding is the process by which the linear amino acid sequence of a protein assumes its functional, three-dimensional configuration. Misfolding occurs when a protein fails to achieve the correct configuration, frequently resulting in destruction of the faulty protein or in protein aggregation. Misfolding of proteins has been associated with neurodegenerative disorders, diabetes, and other diseases. More information about the Folding@Home project may be found at folding.stanford.edu/.
11 The central processing units of a computer are involved in carrying out the instructions in a computer program; depending on the nature of the problem to be solved, the number of CPUs may provide an indication of computing power.
12 For two examples, see CitationOECD, 2009 and CitationAfrican Union, 2006.
13 Many of these expert presentations were delivered at the Beijing workshop.
14 The chemical design of stimuli-responsive polymers (that respond, for example, to changes in temperature, pH, or glucose concentration), conjugation of ligands to improve targeted cell uptake, or the design of scaffolds to support the proliferation and development of seeded cells for tissue regeneration rely on the effective integration of chemistry, materials science, and the life sciences.
Additional information
Katherine Bowman is a senior program officer with the Board on Life Sciences of the National Research Council (NRC) of the US National Academy of Sciences (NAS). She manages studies and activities across a range of life sciences topics, and participates in NRC activities addressing the potential implications of developments in science and technology.
Kathryn Hughes is a program officer with the Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology (BCST) supporting scientific and technical advisory committees working in the areas of chemistry and chemical engineering. Currently, she is also supporting the US National Committee for Chemistry on behalf of the National Academies’ Board on International Scientific Organizations.
Jo L. Husbands is a scholar and senior project director with the NRC’s Board on Life Sciences, where she manages studies and projects to help mitigate the risks of the misuse of scientific research for biological weapons or bioterrorism and represents the NAS on the Biosecurity Working Group of the Inter Academy Panel on International Issues: The Global Network of Science Academies. Husbands is currently an adjunct professor in the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University.