Examining the role of Science and Technology reviews in the Biological Weapons Convention
Examining the role of Science and Technology reviews in the Biological Weapons Convention
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapon published the Report of the Sixteenth Session of the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). Amongst other things, this report draws attention to the convergence of chemistry and biology, specifically in terms of the following: “The increasing use of biologically mediated processes for the production of chemicals (biosynthesis)... The more recent development of the chemical synthesis of replicating organisms... and Recombinant DNA technology that allows replacement of the original genome in bacterial cells with synthetically produced genomes, to produce bacteria with new capabilities.”
On the basis of these findings, the SAB “recommended increasing the dialogue between the different stakeholders of the Convention”. Notably, those stakeholders explicitly identified in the report included: “biological experts involved in the consideration of advances in science and technology relevant to the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)”.
For further information see the Report of the Sixteenth Session of the Scientific Advisory Board.
