Why would somebody modify the anthrax bacterium?
Two broad reasons: military research and infectious disease research. Military researchers might alter the germ to make it a more potent weapon, or they might alter the germs to gain a step on enemies who are altering the germs. Infectious disease scientists might alter the bacteria during research to find more potent antibiotics or during reearch to determine why certain medicines are losing their effectiveness. In general, bacteria lose their battle against antibiotics in two ways: They can’t reproduce or their cell walls collapse. When doctors find an antibiotic-resistant strain, they want to learn about its new genetic code. U.S. researchers would register the new strain with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The strains might then be shipped to other labs for research.
