Reflecting on what you learnt and did in class this week, outline any ethical concerns that arose, especially any that were new to you. Then propose any governance actions you think might be appropriate to address those issues. This should be included on your class page for that week.

• I remain sceptical around the governance regime on a global basis on synthetic biology projects.
  • My understanding out the Prof. Palmer’s lecture is that it boils down to “we are all adults here and we have agreed not to mess around”.
    • It is fairly possible that my take-home message is fairly out of sync with either Prof. Palmer’s message, or the general state of affairs.
  • However, I fail to see how that “commitment to good” is going to hinder malicious actors (especially state level, or criminal syndicates) who undertake such projects and weaponise reseaerch findings or artifacts.
• I am concerned about the regulatory regime of individual bio-labs, in the DIY-bio fashion.
  • Over time, the cost of setting up a lab is going to fall significantly, allowing anyone with the know-how to create a biolab at home at minimal financial capital outlay.
  • Who oversees the research and safety protocols implemented in those labs?
  • What about the clandestine ones? (Related to the above point)
• In the beginning of the (personal/mini) computer era (around 80s - 90s), high skilled malicious individuals known as computer hackers (modern term: black hat hackers) were known to strike fear into the the hearts of nascent internet companies and governments. I seem to recall particular desperation around the activity of these individuals at the time (though my memory might be exagerating the events). Until the Computer Security subfield of Computer Science professionalised, and other methods (Formal Methods, Lightweight Best Practices, etc) developed, these people were considered dangerous and unstoppable.
  • What about the obvious parallels with biology? Who is to stop the geeky guy messing around at home and making a dangerous pathogen? The incel who wants revenge at all costs and wants to design a bioweapon to wreak havoc at his local community? The crime syndicates who want a politician “taken care of” who design bio-weapons tailored to specific individual markers of that politician, and then let it loose?
  • I understand (or rather, I expect/hope) that the field of biology is going to go through a similar transformation once it professionalises, but what happens during that tranient period? Chaos?
  • Similarly, there have been some high profile cases, of computer security professionals moonlighting as criminal hackers (simply because the financial incentives are there). What is to stop a biodesigner from doing the same thing and selling bioweapons to the Taliban?