Planning For A Biosecure Future

Context: COVID-19 has further highlighted the biosecurity concerns of synthetic biology.

About synthetic biology

• Synthetic biology is a revolutionary technology that can help us manipulate biological organisms and processes for human betterment, especially in treating diseases, by re-engineering cells.
• In 2014, the U.S. Department of Defense categorised synthetic biology as one of the six ‘disruptive basic research areas’

Risks associated with synthetic biology

• Possibility of deliberate misuse: Risk to increase as technology becomes widely accessible.
• Accidental leaks of experimental pathogens: Insufficiently trained staff, inadequately safeguarded facilities, and lack of proper protocols could all be behind such leaks.
• Gaps in regulatory regime: Fields of biology or synthetic biology are not regulated internationally despite growing military interest in synthetic biology applications and their potential misuse.
  • The ‘weapon of mass destruction (WMD) capability of bio­weapons has been long recognised, but very little has been done by the international community about it. Of the three types of WMD, nuclear weapons have received the maximum safety and security attention.
  • The Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) of 1972:
    • Only global body in the field but has no implementing body.
    • The BTWC does not have a verification clause, nor does it have clearly laid down rules and procedures to guide research in this field.
    • Bans bio-weapons, whereas research for medical and bio-defence purposes are allowed.
• Compounded risks to India: Due to poor disease surveillance, insufficient coordination among various government departments dealing with biosecurity issues, and pathetic state of the healthcare system.
  • Multiplicity of bodies and ministries:
    • Implementation of biosafety guidelines is the responsibility of Science and Technology Ministry and Environment Ministry.
    • Labs dealing with biological research are set up under Indian Council of Medical Research and Indian Council of Agricultural Research, which are under Ministries of Health and Agriculture.
  • National security threat: Question is whether India, with its porous borders and ill-trained border control institutions, is prepared for defending against pathogens or dangerous biological organisms or agents arriving from abroad.

Way forward: COVID-19 serves as a wake-up call as it is clear that dangerous bio-weapons can come from labs.

• Need for a paradigm shift in national security outlook: Rethink sources of insecurity in light of the growth of exponential technologies such as synthetic biology, artificial intelligence and nanotechnology.