Benefits & Risks of Biotechnology

Over the past decade, progress in biotechnology has accelerated rapidly. We are poised to enter a period of dramatic change, in which the genetic modification of existing organisms — or the creation of new ones — will become effective, inexpensive, and pervasive.

Biotech Trends

These past ten years have seen the cost of sequencing a human genome plummet, dropping from ~$10M USD to ~$1000, while the challenges of genome sequencing have also declined significantly. Accumulation of large data sets of medical and genetic information will provide an ever-increasing ability to understand and modify our own genome and that of other creatures.

In parallel, a major recent advance in genetic engineering has occurred with the discovery of CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats), a bacterial DNA sequence that codes for a protein (Cas9) and RNA combination that can locate a specific DNA sequence and splice the DNA strand at that location. This enables relative to earlier recombinant DNA technologies.

The CRISPR system has been used successfully in complex organisms including adult mice and even embryonic humans.  As the technique can change the genome of a mature creature, it can in principle be used therapeutically to treat genetic conditions, and clinical trials in humans may be just a few years away.  Researchers have also proposed “gene drives” that spread a genetic modification through a population in the wild, so as to (for example) make mice immune to Lyme disease, or make mosquitos unable to transmit Malaria.

 It is easy to imagine this capability leading to powerful treatments for — or even elimination of — many genetic diseases, cancers and other illnesses, as well as a reduction or eradication of pathogens, dramatically improved food crops, organisms engineered to clean up degraded environments, and many other hugely beneficial biotechnologies. 

Biotech Risks

Unfortunately, it is just as easy to imagine major dangers. Gene drives may upend existing ecosystems in unforeseen ways. Modification of humans could open a Pandora’s box, altering the very meaning of humanity. Perhaps most alarming is that a clear understanding — and easy re-engineering — of human pathogens could lead to deliberate or accidental release of hugely destructive pathogens.  

Scientists performing “gain of function” research have, for example, introduced mutations to the H5N1 virus to make it airborne. Though the intention of such research is to predict and prepare for adverse mutations that may occur naturally, developing these organisms creates the risk of accidental release, and publishing the techniques could provide a blueprint for others to make dangerous modifications to organisms.  

Deliberately engineered pathogens could be given properties that make them even more dangerous than naturally occurring ones.  While such abilities are currently limited to high-end labs run by top researchers, the necessary technology and understanding is rapidly becoming cheaper and more widespread, leading to serious risks of accidental release.  Worse yet, if the set of people with access to such technology and understanding begins to overlap with groups of radical ideology who are willing to use such extreme measures, the results could be devastating unless effective countermeasures are developed first.

Recommended References

Videos

• Prof. Marc Lipsitch: Risks and Benefits of Gain-of-Function Experiments in Potentially Pandemic Pathogens
• Cathal Garvey: Bringing Biotechnology into the Home (TEDx Talk): In this TEDx talk, Cathal Garvey reviews the benefits of biotechnology and introduces consumer biotechnologies in development; such as bioprinters, customized pets, downloadable DNA, and biochips.
• Nina Tandon: Caring for Engineered Tissue (TED Talk): In this TED talk Nina Tandon talks about simple but powerful methods of caring for artificially grown cells by copying their natural environment.
• Gregory Stock: To Upgrade is Human (TED Talk): Biotech ethicist Gregory Stock talks about new, more meaningful (and controversial) technologies, like customizable babies, whose adoption might drive human evolution.
• Richard Resnick: Welcome to the Genomic Revolution (TEDx Talk): In this accessible talk from TEDxBoston, Richard Resnick shows how cheap and fast genome sequencing is about to turn health care (and insurance, and politics) upside down.
• Ellen Jorgensen: Biohacking – You Can Do It Too (TED Talk): In this TED talk, Ellen Jorgensen introduces us to the biohacking community and reviews common misconceptions about the dangers of biohacking.

Research Papers

• Bruce Schneier – Resources on Existential Risk , p. 103

Books

• Biotechnology for Beginners: An overview of biotechnology for beginners and lay readers. Includes a wide array of biotech sciences such as: genetics, immunology, biochemistry, agronomy, food science, and animal science.
• Biotechnology and the Human Good
• Fighting for the Future of Food 
• Introduction to Biotechnology
• Our Posthuman Future: Consequences of the Biotechnology Revolution

Organizations

• Cambridge Working Group: Works to address the risks of Potential Pandemic Pathogen research through promoting public understanding, risk assessment and regulation of such research.
• etc Group: Works to address the socioeconomic and ecological issues surrounding new technologies (especially agriculture) that could have an impact on the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people.
• American Biological Safety Association (ABSA): Promotes biosafety as a scientific discipline through forums and peer-reviewed journals for biosafety professionals throughout the world.
• Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA): Develops and procures needed medical countermeasures (MCMs), including vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and non-pharmaceutical countermeasures, against a broad array of public health emergencies in the US.
• Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO): A trade association representing biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers, and related organizations around the world. Researches and developes innovative healthcare, agriculturual, industrial, and environmental biotechnology products.
• Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine: Conducts biomedical and biotech research and development to improve human health.
• Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases (CBEID): Addresses and researches important issues in the protection of the US from biological threats, including bioterrorism, biological warfare, and tropical infectious diseases.
• Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP): Works to prevent illness and death from infectious disease threats through research by implementing real world practical applications, policies, and solutions.
• Center for International Security and Cooperation: Stanford University’s hub for researchers working together to tackle some of the world’s most pressing security and international cooperation issues; and to influence the policymaking agenda in the United States and abroad to help build a safer world.
• Center for Policy on Emerging Technologies (C-PET): A wide network of knowledgeable professionals who identify, clarify, and prioritize the big questions raised in a future perspective to cultivate a context within which solutions can be developed.
• Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS): A bipartisan organization that conducts research and analysis, and develops policy initiatives with a future outlook, to help decision-makers chart a course toward a better world.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): The United States government’s center for research, analysis, and detection of new and emerging global health threats. Promotes healthy and safe behaviors, communities, and environments.
• Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP): A research and development center in India which enables bioscience research and entrepreneurship by providing research, development, training, and service in biotechnology platforms.
• Centre for the Study of Existential Risk: A multidisciplinary research center dedicated to the study and mitigation of risks that could lead to human extinction.
• Chemical Biological Incident Response Force (CBIRF): Responds to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or high yield explosive events in order to assist local, state, or federal agencies in consequence management.
• Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC): A nonprofit institution that works in the fields of disease control and prevention, and public health management.
• Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) – Biological Technologies Office: Researches and designs breakthrough technologies for nation security.
• Defence Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA): The U.S. Department of Defense’s official Combat Support Agency for countering weapons of mass destruction.
• EcoHealth Alliance: An international organization of scientists dedicated to the conservation of biodiversity that researches the relationships between wildlife, ecosystems, and human health.
• Emerging Pandemic Threats (EPT) Program: Monitors and increases local capacities of geographic hot spots to identify the emergence of new infectious diseases in high-risk wildlife that could pose a major threat to human health.
• Federation of American Scientists (FAS): Provides a scientific analysis of and solutions to protect against catastrophic threats to national and international security.
• Foresight Institute: A think tank and public interest organization focused on transformative future technologies. Discovers and promotes the technological benefits, and helps avoid the dangers of nanotechnology, AI, biotech, and other similar life-changing developments.
• Global Catastrophic Risk Institute (GCRI): A think tank leading research, education, and professional networking on global catastrophic risk.
• Intelligence: Collects and conveys essential information the President and the members of policymaking, law enforcement, and military communities require to execute their appointed duties.
• International Federation of Biosafety Associatons (IFBA): Supports and promotes biosafety on a national and international level through collaboration among national and regional biosafety organizations worldwide.
• International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP): Studies the global-scale and regional-scale interactions between Earth’s biological, chemical, and physical processes and their interactions with human systems.
• Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL): Applies multidisciplinary science and technology to anticipate, innovate, and deliver responsive solutions to complex global security needs.
• Lifeboat Foundation: An organization dedicated to encouraging scientific advancements while helping humanity survive existential risks and possible misuse of increasingly powerful technologies.
• Middle East Consortium on Infectious Disease Surveillance (MECIDS): Advances the capabilities for early infectious disease and food-borne illness prevention, detection, control, and response between its member countries of Israel, Jordan, and Palestine.
• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIH): Conducts and supports basic and applied research to better understand, treat, and prevent infectious, immunologic, and allergic diseases.
• New England Complex Systems Institute (NECSI): An independent academic research and educational institution that develops complex systems and its applications to study how interactions within a system lead to its behavioral patterns, and how the system interacts with its environment.
• Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI): A nonpartisan organization that focuses on strengthening global security by reducing the risk of using and preventing the spread of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons.
• Resilience Alliance: A research organization comprised of scientists and practitioners from many disciplines who collaborate to explore the dynamics of social-ecological systems.
• Skoll Global Threats Fund: Seeks solutions, strengthens alliances, and spurs actions needed to confront the global threats imperiling humanity.
• Society for Risk Analysis (SRA): A multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, scholarly, international society that provides an open forum for all those who are interested in risk analysis.
• The Biosecurity Engagement Program (BEP): Engages with Life Scientists to combat biological threats worldwide by providing assistance to improve biosecurity, biosafety, pathogen surveillance, and infectious disease surveillance and response.
• The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity (CBHD)
• The Club of Rome: An informal association of long-term thinkers interested in and concerned with the future of humanity and the planet.
• The Genome Analysis Centre (TGAC): A research institute focused on the application of genomics and bioinformatics to advance plant, animal, and microbial research to promote a sustainable bioeconomy.
• The Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies (IEET): A think tank which promotes ideas about how technological progress can increase freedom, happiness, and human flourishing in democratic societies.
• The Program on Science and Global Security (SGS): Carries out research, policy analysis, education, and training in nuclear arms control and nonproliferation, and provides research and administrative support to the International Panel on Fissile Materials.
• U.S. Department of Defense (DOD): Provides military forces needed to deter war and to protect the security of the United States.
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) – National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC): A national resource used to understand the scientific basis of the risks posed by biological threats and to attribute their use in bioterrorism or biocrime events.
• UPMC Center for Health Security: Protects people’s health from the consequences of epidemics and disasters, and ensures that communities are resilient to major challenges.
• Wilson Center: A non-partisan policy forum and a leading institution for tackling global issues through independent research and open dialogue to inform actionable ideas for Congress, the Administration, and the broader policy community.
• X-events: A research institute that works with the theory of surpize, studies extreme events, experiments different anticipation methods, and develops tools for research and decision making.
• Prevent Project: PREVENT works to reduce the risks that zoonoses—diseases that move between animals and humans—can pose to public health.

These organizations above all work on biotechnology issues, though many cover other topics as well. This list is undoubtedly incomplete; please contact us to suggest additions or corrections.