Chapter
The risks of creating annihilating pathogens.
24:37 - 34:41 (10:03)
The danger of creating pathogens that could potentially wipe out humanity is increasing as more and more labs are allowed to experiment with them, and the risk of malevolent insiders also increases with the growing number of labs. Countermeasures should be taken to prevent the creation of these pathogens in leaky labs, as the costs would be much less compared to the catastrophic consequences of an outbreak.
Clips
Synthetic biology has the potential to help us beat cancer and rescue the environment, but in the wrong hands, it could lead to self-destruction.
24:37 - 30:27 (05:50)
Summary
Synthetic biology has the potential to help us beat cancer and rescue the environment, but in the wrong hands, it could lead to self-destruction. The high likelihood of a boo-boo happening, compounded by the risks of malevolent use and the limited number of biolabs, means that we need to be concerned about the risks associated with synthetic biology.
ChapterThe risks of creating annihilating pathogens.
Episode#193 – Rob Reid: The Existential Threat of Engineered Viruses and Lab Leaks
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The increase in labs working with potentially dangerous pathogens raises concerns about the risk of an insider carrying out a malevolent act.
30:28 - 32:33 (02:05)
Summary
The increase in labs working with potentially dangerous pathogens raises concerns about the risk of an insider carrying out a malevolent act. Countermeasures, including the hardening of the entire sin bio ecosystem, can preclude their creation and minimize the risks of their release from rogue actors.
ChapterThe risks of creating annihilating pathogens.
Episode#193 – Rob Reid: The Existential Threat of Engineered Viruses and Lab Leaks
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
This podcast episode explains, in a relatively narrow sense, the concept of gain of function research which involves magnifying the capabilities of microorganisms to make them more dangerous, and discusses its possible applications to create hardy strains of corn and GMOs.
32:33 - 34:41 (02:07)
Summary
This podcast episode explains, in a relatively narrow sense, the concept of gain of function research which involves magnifying the capabilities of microorganisms to make them more dangerous, and discusses its possible applications to create hardy strains of corn and GMOs. The creation of GMOs involves gain of function research just like the research projects conducted on H5N1 flu in separate labs in Holland and Wisconsin in 2011.