Biological weapons in the 21st Century
5 September 2003
Dr. Jan van Aken, University of Hamburg and the Sunshine Project
The rapid developments in biotechnology, genetics and genomics may have severe implications for international peace and security because they open up tremendous new avenues for the creation of new biological weapons. The genetically engineered "superbug" – highly lethal and resistant to environmental influence or any medical treatment – is only a small part of this story. Much more alarming from an arms control perspective are the possibilities of developing completely novel weapons based on the knowledge provided by biomedical research – developments that are already taking place. Such weapons, designed for new types of conflicts and warfare scenarios, secret operations or sabotage activities are not mere science fiction but are increasingly becoming a reality that we have to face. In this presentation, Jan van Aken from the Sunshine Project will provide a systematic overview of the possible impact of biotechnology on the development of biological weapons.