A commentary from Roger Brent on synthetic biology and its relation to issues of personal responsibility and biological security.Peter Parker and Uncle Ben are on my mind. The reason is that is that a month ago I
was jumped by Craig Venter. There were TV cameras around. The live audience was an
interesting, edgy mix, on the interface between "technology", meaning computer
technology, and culture/ media/ journalism; I had just given a closely prepared talk on the
history, promises, and perils of biology, 20 minutes from solar system formation to origin
of life to photosynthesis to agriculture to Asilomar to now; and I had paid particular
attention to the existing threat from remade and lightly engineered viruses, and the
various technology-empowered approaches that could contribute to a defense against
unpredictable viral and bacterial pathogens. The whole set of ways the defense strategy
needs to shift
