Nightmare scenario
Lord Rees said the unpredictable nature of pandemics, including a lack of control over who becomes infected, means “governments and terrorist groups” will avoid deliberately creating “engineered pandemics”.
“The real nightmare will be a deranged loner with biotech expertise, who does not care who becomes infected or how many,” the scientist said.
“In contrast to the elaborate, conspicuous equipment needed to create a nuclear weapon, which can feasibly be monitored by international inspectors, biotech involves small-scale, dual-use technology that will become easily accessible.
“There are thousands of academic and industrial labs around the world where dangerous pathogens are being studied and modified. An increasing number of individuals will acquire the requisite expertise.
“The dangers are looming ever larger; regulation of biotech is needed ever more today… This is the stuff of nightmares.
“The rising empowerment of malign, tech-savvy groups, or even individuals, by biotech will pose an intractable challenge to governments and aggravate the tensions between freedom, privacy and security.”
Lord Rees said the moral and practical challenges of tackling such a nascent field has left the world’s authorities unprepared. He said biotech has “stupendous potential” which could just as likely endanger humanity itself as help society flourish.
“We must hope that vaccines and antidotes become ever more effective and speedily produced, in step with the growing threat,” Lord Rees said.
“The UK can indeed achieve influence in what has to be a global programme.”
Dr. Thomas Hughes is a UK-based scientist and science communicator who makes complex topics accessible to readers. His articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to cutting-edge research.
