The devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have acutely shown the need for maintaining robust international and national systems for biological security and ensuring that life sciences are used only for peaceful...The devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have acutely shown the need for maintaining robust international and national systems for biological security and ensuring that life sciences are used only for peaceful purposes.Life science stakeholders can play an important role in safeguarding scientific and technological advances in biology and related fields against accidental or deliberate misuse,not least because they are on the frontlines of driving innovation.In this paper,we argue that enhancing awareness and understanding of the risk of deliberate disease is essential for effective biological security.We first discuss the issue of‘dual use’in science and technology as it relates to disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.Second,we review how scientist engagement with dual-use risks has been addressed in the context of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention(BTWC).Third,we report on the development of an innovative awarenessraising tool,a cartoon series,that can be used for engaging life science stakeholders with BTWC issues.Finally,we outline a set of practical considerations for promoting sustainable life science engagement with the BTWC.展开更多
The recent global COVID-19 pandemic has had profound economic and social impacts on the world.It has highlighted an urgent need to strengthen existing international biosecurity governance mechanisms to prevent the mis...The recent global COVID-19 pandemic has had profound economic and social impacts on the world.It has highlighted an urgent need to strengthen existing international biosecurity governance mechanisms to prevent the misuse and malicious abuse of life science research and maintain international biological arms control norms.Biologists are at the front line of biotechnology development and are key to maintaining biosecurity awareness and moral self-discipline.As an important first step,biologists need to actively participate in the formulation and implementation of relevant biosecurity policies and measures to ensure their effectiveness and sustainability.Furthermore,efforts should be made to advocate for and promote the establishment of an ethical code of conduct for biologists to share safety responsibilities for global biosecurity.To maximize the impact of this ethical code of conduct,an effective approach to implementing codes of conduct for biologists at both national and international levels should be established under the framework of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention(BTWC).展开更多
In order to effectively implement the Tianjin Biosecurity Guidelines for Codes of Conduct for Scientists,biosecurity awareness-raising and education are essential because if these are not in place scientists will not ...In order to effectively implement the Tianjin Biosecurity Guidelines for Codes of Conduct for Scientists,biosecurity awareness-raising and education are essential because if these are not in place scientists will not understand the need for biosecurity codes of conduct.In an effort to assist in the implementation of the guidelines,a smallscale survey was carried out in early 2022 of biosecurity awareness-raising and education projects that have been developed over the last two decades to discover what resources and experience have been accumulated.It is argued that the survey demonstrates that much of what is needed to implement the guidelines effectively has been developed,but that there are specific deficiencies that need to be remedied quickly.In particular,an updated teaching resource covering the core issues related to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention(BTWC)and the problem of dual use in scientific research needs to be made widely available and translated into at least the six official United Nations(UN)languages.Additionally,more specialists from the Humanities with expertise in ethics need to become involved in biosecurity awareness-raising and education activities.While advantage should be taken now of the available national,regional and international networks of people involved in related activities,it is suggested that in the longer term cooperation in biosecurity awareness-raising and education will benefit from the development of an equivalent organisation to the International Nuclear Security Education Network(INSEN)organised through the International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA).展开更多
How to ensure the safe,effective,and ethical use of emerging biotechnologies,such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats(CRISPR)-based genome editing,is a global challenge.The occurrence of the&q...How to ensure the safe,effective,and ethical use of emerging biotechnologies,such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats(CRISPR)-based genome editing,is a global challenge.The occurrence of the"CRISPR babies"in 2018 publicly brought this issue into sharp focus,and led to comprehensive regulatory reforms in China and various countries around the world.The current article analyzes this event-driven regulatory reform in China by elaborating the most salient provisions designed to prevent risk and protect individual rights,public health,and social morality relating to human genome editing in four important sectors of law:biosecurity law,civil code,criminal law and patent law.It highlights that,although regulation is being undertaken,the gaps between the law and advancing technology remain discernible,at both a national and transnational level(i.e.,the "double-pacing problem").Further attention and collaboration will be required to address the ongoing challenges associated with the use of human genome editing.展开更多
基金The graphic design of the Cartoon Series and the publication of this manuscript have been funded by a grant provided by the UK Research and Innovation Strategic Priorities Fund and HEIF Rescaling Fund through London Metropolitan University,UK.
文摘The devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have acutely shown the need for maintaining robust international and national systems for biological security and ensuring that life sciences are used only for peaceful purposes.Life science stakeholders can play an important role in safeguarding scientific and technological advances in biology and related fields against accidental or deliberate misuse,not least because they are on the frontlines of driving innovation.In this paper,we argue that enhancing awareness and understanding of the risk of deliberate disease is essential for effective biological security.We first discuss the issue of‘dual use’in science and technology as it relates to disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.Second,we review how scientist engagement with dual-use risks has been addressed in the context of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention(BTWC).Third,we report on the development of an innovative awarenessraising tool,a cartoon series,that can be used for engaging life science stakeholders with BTWC issues.Finally,we outline a set of practical considerations for promoting sustainable life science engagement with the BTWC.
基金supported by the National Social Science Fund of China(Grant no.20BFX163)grants from the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant no.2020YFA0908600,2019YFA0904600).
文摘The recent global COVID-19 pandemic has had profound economic and social impacts on the world.It has highlighted an urgent need to strengthen existing international biosecurity governance mechanisms to prevent the misuse and malicious abuse of life science research and maintain international biological arms control norms.Biologists are at the front line of biotechnology development and are key to maintaining biosecurity awareness and moral self-discipline.As an important first step,biologists need to actively participate in the formulation and implementation of relevant biosecurity policies and measures to ensure their effectiveness and sustainability.Furthermore,efforts should be made to advocate for and promote the establishment of an ethical code of conduct for biologists to share safety responsibilities for global biosecurity.To maximize the impact of this ethical code of conduct,an effective approach to implementing codes of conduct for biologists at both national and international levels should be established under the framework of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention(BTWC).
文摘In order to effectively implement the Tianjin Biosecurity Guidelines for Codes of Conduct for Scientists,biosecurity awareness-raising and education are essential because if these are not in place scientists will not understand the need for biosecurity codes of conduct.In an effort to assist in the implementation of the guidelines,a smallscale survey was carried out in early 2022 of biosecurity awareness-raising and education projects that have been developed over the last two decades to discover what resources and experience have been accumulated.It is argued that the survey demonstrates that much of what is needed to implement the guidelines effectively has been developed,but that there are specific deficiencies that need to be remedied quickly.In particular,an updated teaching resource covering the core issues related to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention(BTWC)and the problem of dual use in scientific research needs to be made widely available and translated into at least the six official United Nations(UN)languages.Additionally,more specialists from the Humanities with expertise in ethics need to become involved in biosecurity awareness-raising and education activities.While advantage should be taken now of the available national,regional and international networks of people involved in related activities,it is suggested that in the longer term cooperation in biosecurity awareness-raising and education will benefit from the development of an equivalent organisation to the International Nuclear Security Education Network(INSEN)organised through the International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA).
基金This research was supported by grants from the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant nos.2019YFA0904600 and 2020YFA0908600).
文摘How to ensure the safe,effective,and ethical use of emerging biotechnologies,such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats(CRISPR)-based genome editing,is a global challenge.The occurrence of the"CRISPR babies"in 2018 publicly brought this issue into sharp focus,and led to comprehensive regulatory reforms in China and various countries around the world.The current article analyzes this event-driven regulatory reform in China by elaborating the most salient provisions designed to prevent risk and protect individual rights,public health,and social morality relating to human genome editing in four important sectors of law:biosecurity law,civil code,criminal law and patent law.It highlights that,although regulation is being undertaken,the gaps between the law and advancing technology remain discernible,at both a national and transnational level(i.e.,the "double-pacing problem").Further attention and collaboration will be required to address the ongoing challenges associated with the use of human genome editing.
