Could DNA Sequences Help Monitor Dangerous Pathogens?
– New Report To Be Released Aug. 3 Sequence-Based Classification of Select Agents: A Brighter Line, a new report from the National Research Council, examines the science and technology needed to develop and implement an oversight system that predicts if a DNA sequence could be used to produce a dangerous pathogen that should be regulated as a select agent. A list of particularly dangerous known bacteria, viruses, toxins, and fungi are regulated as select agents. Access to technologies that can synthesize any DNA sequence is expanding, making it easier and less expensive for researchers, industry scientists, and amateur users to create organisms without needing to obtain samples of existing stocks or cultures. This has led to growing concerns that these DNA synthesis technologies might be used to synthesize select agents, modify such agents by introducing small changes to the genetic sequence, or create entirely new pathogens. Amid these concerns, the Research Council was requested to i
