The UN Convention on Biological Diversity is exploring whether to force a moratorium on genetic research next year, with many in the southern hemisphere worried about the possible military applications of genetic research, a claim by the UN diplomats that the news will exacerbate the genetic-driven notoriety in some countries. When the technology came from DARPA, a U.S. military research institute, many countries raised concerns.
Gene extinction technology used in biological weapons can be a nightmare, and currently known research devoted entirely to the prevention and elimination of pests. Cutting-edge gene editing tools such as Crispr-Cas9 use synthetic ribonucleic acid (RNA) to cut into NDA chains, Then the target is embedded, modified, or removed, etc. For example, scientists use these techniques to change the sex ratio of mosquitoes effectively to eliminate the mosquito population.
Some UN experts are worried about the unintended consequences of the study, one expert told The Guardian: 'You may be able to remove the virus or kill the entire mosquito population, but also bring ecology to species that depend on these species for survival Although our aspirations are wonderful, my biggest worry is that we have an irreversible effect on the environment, and we will be able to fully understand the consequences of these technologies.
Jim Thomas, the expert who got the news, said: "The leaked US military influence will reinforce opposition to these technologies, and changing or eliminating the entire population threatens peace and food security more than ecologically. It is even possible for the military investment gene-driven area to violate the Convention that prohibits the use of environmentally-friendly technologies for military or any other hostile purposes. "
Todd Kuiken, Darpa's collaborator for the $ 6.4 million GBIRd project, claims that the core idea of the U.S. military funding is to get those researchers who rely on grants to adjust their projects to meet the narrow targets set by the military. The U.S. government spent about $ 820 million in synthetic biology research between 2008 and 2014. Since 2012, much of that funding has come from DARPA and other military agencies.
A DARPA spokesman said: 'DARPA is not and should not be the sole investor in the field of gene editing, and it is for DARPA to protect the nation and maintain military agility is the most important.' 'DARPA considers the cost of genetic editing tools to plunge Parties or terrorists provide a greater opportunity to experience these technologies.The speaker said: 'Low cost and high availability means that gene editing can be applied outside of traditional science and international norms.Study can avoid accidental and abuse Gene editing technology is incumbent upon DARPA.
Andrea Crisanti, a professor at Imperial College London who was a pioneer in gene-driven research, has confirmed that DARPA hired him for $ 2.5 million to identify and control the genetic extinction study, claiming: 'These studies will be applied to Biofuels fears are unnecessary, and the technology will never have any military purpose, and the public's concern is whether the system being developed has any unintended effect, and we have never been asked to consider any application other than virus elimination. "