Synthetic Biology as Super-Weapon?
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is investing in synthetic biology -- and provoking some criticism. The recently released DARPA budget for 2011 includes $20 million for the general Synthetic Biology program, and a further $6 million for a new program called BioDesign (pp. 264-5 of this 522-page pdf).
The description of BioDesign starts off as basic Synthetic Biology, but then adds a plan for:
designed molecular responses that increase resistance to cellular death signals... Development of technologies to genetically tag and/or lock synthesized molecules would provide methods for identifying the origin and source of synthetic biologicals (e.g., genes or proteins) allowing for traceability and prevention of manipulation ("tamper proof" synthetic biological).
Of course, nothing could go wrong with this, but just in case, the "2011 Base Plans" include:
- Develop strategies to create a synthetic organism "self-destruct" option to be implemented upon nefarious removal of organism.
- Permanently append a synthetic organism's genome and prevent foul play by tracking organism use and history, similar to a traceable serial number on a handgun.
Katie Drummond at Wired picked up on this: "Pentagon Looks to Breed Immortal 'Synthetic Organisms,' Molecular Kill-Switch Included." That caught the attention of Matthew Yglesias, Spencer Ackerman, and many more blogs. (A Google News search on Feb 8 also turned up several hits in Russian, Mandarin, and Hungarian, among others.) The general reaction was horror, mixed with dark humor. Ackerman's headline sums it up:
DARPA To Breed Super-Beings Who Would Never Dream Of Attempting To Kill Us All
It's worth remembering that DARPA's unclassified budget is $3 billion, so $6 million is for the agency a small investment in what may be seen as a long shot. They are spending much more than that ($32 million) on developing robot dogs.
Still, it's interesting that jaws did drop. Perhaps the prospect of synthetic super-organisms will trigger serious consideration of regulation and oversight.
Previously on Biopolitical Times: