The world is failing in efforts to control an international biotechnology trade ranging from genetically modified crops to the building blocks of biological weapons, a UN University study said on Tuesday. The study said a lack of controls was "a potentially contributing factor to the spread of bioterrorism" -- the deliberate release of naturally-occurring or human-modified bacteria, viruses, toxins or other biological agents.
Rekindling the debate over the interference of politics in scientific research, the us National Academy of Sciences (nas) disregarded the caution of the us Health and Human Services Department
Us scientists recently protested the massive biodefence research funding by the us government since the 2001 anthrax attacks. They claimed it had adversely affected basic microbiological research.
The g7 has decided to establish a "bioterrorism crisis centre' and provide millions of shots to the World Health Organisation's international "vaccine bank' to counter any germ weapon attack by
It has been nine months since the US began its search for chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Although nothing was found, yet the US paranoia over bioterrorism attacks has not waned. In fact, two new regulations to prevent such a
An experimental vaccine against the lethal Ebola virus has been administered to humans for the first time in November 2003. If the trial proves successful, then the vaccine will be commercialised by 2006, a decade sooner than the time, it was thought, it
The human genome may not solve all our problems. One of the most far reaching consequences of the decoding is the ability to predict people s susceptibility to particular diseases. Experts question the use of such a power. Will employers harness the data
The sudden spurt in articles on bioterrorism published by medical journals may have inadvertently helped convince the public that the war on Iraq was just, argues Ian Roberts, a professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Roberts res
Recently, I met some senior British diplomats. Conversa tion moved to the impending war in Iraq and its rationa lity . It became heated. I wish to share a piece of Bushspeak the discussion ended
In response to worries about bioterrorism, prominent journals have decided to take security issues into account while reviewing research papers. Details of published studies that might help
