Citation: DiEuliis, Diane, and Gigi Kwik Gronvall. “A
Holistic Assessment of the Risks and Benefits of the Synthesis of Horsepox
Virus.” mSphere 3.2 (2018): e00074–18. PMC. Web.
10 Apr. 2018.
Recently, scientists were able to
synthesize what is called a horsepox virus. This, on its own, does not seem
significant; scientists create things all the time. Additionally, it is
believed the virus is now extinct and does not pose a serious threat to human
health. However, this virus happens to be in the same genus as smallpox.
Smallpox is significant, millions of people died because of it; many more were harmed.
Creating the horsepox virus and sharing that information with the world frightens
the scientific world as well as anyone concerned with biological warfare. This
study raised questions in the scientific community; communication and learning
have been central to the advancement of the human species, is it now necessary
to censor information in the name of safety?
Research, as well as the sharing of
our findings, has enabled us to answer questions we wouldn’t dream of answering
individually. However, when information can be used for harm, I believe it is
important to take a step back and assess the risks of sharing such information.
This study reminded me of the creation of dynamite. Alfred Nobel created
dynamite as a better, more effective tool for construction. I wonder if the
implications here are similar.
Posted by Sarah Kamukala (2)
Very interesting article to read. I was aware what smallpox were and how they have affected people severely. I find it fascinating yet very frightening that researchers were able to create something such as the horsepox. How will horsepox affect humans or other mammals? Would there be a possible vaccine similar to smallpox?
ReplyDelete-Tatiana Silveira (3)
Horsepox is not known to hurt humans. However, it does harm horses, ergo the name. The reason it was created was for educational purposes as well as to find a way to create better smallpox vaccines.
DeleteSarah Kamukala
It is very interesting to consider how science and technology can be used for harmful purposes. Especially with diseases like smallpox, which could have a lot of impact on populations. It makes me wonder about other recent inventions of technology, like gene editing, and how those also could be used for nonethical reasons.
ReplyDeleteHarris Jackson (3)
It is certainly frightening to think of the possibilities that can occur as a result of biological warfare, especially with deadly diseases similar to smallpox. There are not many regulations on this subject matter but it is seemingly a large ethical gray area.
ReplyDelete-Sunaina Sharma (3)
This is definitely a frightening post. My question: Why did they create the horsepox virus in the first place? Did the article explain this at all? Were they using it to study smallpox and its method of transmission or something along those lines? But in terms of biological warfare, this does bring up some potentially scary implications. I don't know much about the laws/policies on biological warfare, but I hope there are some rules to limit what kinds of viruses and other biological warfare that can be created by scientists.
ReplyDelete-Nicole Ayres (1)
They were trying to see if they could create better smallpox vaccines. The vaccines we have currently are pretty effective, however, they come with some side effects. It was also a way to seek better targeted cancer treatments. Needless to say, biological warfare is illegal. Just like nuclear weapons, I'm sure everyone has something up their sleeves.
DeleteSarah Kamukala