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Comments (98)

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  whatever1
  Why is everyone spooked by ai driven bioterrorism ? Like all of our water supplies are much easier to mess with compared to developing a virus or whatever that may or may not work
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  AnotherGoodName
  I'm curious if this is related to some things the top AI models are uncovering.We know we don't get to see the bio side of the top models. They're out there solving hard maths problems etc but a query with the word 'microbes' in it often kicks you back to a smaller model automatically.Are the bleeding edge models finding something scary enough that can be done with synthetic DNA that it needs to be restricted asap?
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  gr-mk
  This might impact me and a small handful of other people who have messing around with microbes in their apartment as a hobby. We'll see what happens.
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  __MatrixMan__
  The device used to make oligonucleotides is pretty much an inkjet printer, from there it's cleverly applied enzymes to assemble the full strand. If you've got the skills and determination to get the synthetic DNA into a functioning cell, I don't think limiting access to synthetic DNA in the first place is going to stop you.
• 41353aab
  [dead]
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  3eb7988a1663
  But Esvelt points out the policy only requires screening for DNA sequences 50 base pairs or longer. A would-be bioterrorist, he argues, could easily stitch together a dangerous sequence from much smaller fragments ordered from multiple different suppliers. Esvelt says he has built an algorithm capable of screening sequences as short as 30 base pairs for their risk potential and made it freely available. “That’s the main flaw in an otherwise pretty great policy,” he says. “Don’t bother building a fence if there’s going to be an obvious huge gap in it.” So, a song and dance of doing something that will most likely just inconvenience people doing real work.Also, DNA chemistry is very well established. Someone with the appropriate background could easily assemble oligos without too much difficulty. I guess this stops Little Johnny from printing ebola from the internet.
• Kim_Bruning
  I want to say this is like banning the compilation of certain code snippets, but it's not like that, it's literally that. A bit weird.
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  King-Aaron
  > U.S. government–funded scientists who make and manipulate DNA sequences will face tougher regulationsSeems like this has little to do with deterring terrorism then, considering the assumption that a terrorist may not be a US government funded scientist.
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  janalsncm
  > It’s great, because it does something instead of nothingI am detecting a bit of frustration here.
• idiotsecant
  Talk about a useless policy. It just says federally funded scientists need to buy gear from US companies and register. I feel like I can confidently say whoever makes the first purpose built megavirus is not going to be federally registered and purchasing equipment through the property channels. This is security theater, but unlike TSA this is security theater with existential stakes.
• avadodin
  Erm. Terrorists are generally full of DNA. How difficult is it to break that down, sort and purify on a scale from vinegar and soda to bioterrorist with access to a DNA printer?
• phkahler
  No sequences encoding harmful stuff like covid19 spike proteins!! That means no mRNA vaccines that make spike protiens!! ;-)
• throw938083839
  Where is the disclaimer, that all labs are 100% safe, and it is not possible for something like virus to escape from lab?
• andrewclunn
  So continue to fund bioweapons programs under the guise of medical research while also stifling individual and independent research under the guise of protecting us from terrorism? Yeah, that sounds like the US government.
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  burnt-resistor
  Let's ban knives too because they're sharp and might hurt someone.
• drdrek
  12 Monkeys here we come!Cluade find how to time travel, Make no mistakes!
• shevy-java
  This is not unlike 3D printing: "What? You can print a gun? Into jail you go!".When you then look at the mafia in charge of the USA right now, run by oligarchs and other shady criminals, you ultimately have an apartheid system at work now, because these top-down pseudo-kings can control what others can do. Everyone is monitored and a potential terrorist now. Now imagine that DNA can be patented (I don't refer to right now, but look how ESTs (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expressed_sequence_tag) in the 1990s could be patented) - and suddenly you will have a state-run mafia decide which monopolist can yield de-facto control, with a few minor companies roleplaying the "it's still capitalism!!!" when in reality it no longer is.
• squidmaster
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• senor_digimon
  This sounds unbelievable, but hey, we have AI. Let's just keep pretending this is the regular rate of tech advancement ...Carry on, everything is apparently fine.