Some ethicists worry that synthetic biology makes it easy to design dangerous organisms that could be released maliciously. However, synthetic biology can also mitigate bioterrorism risks by allowing scientists to create a variant of a microorganism that is less dangerous, which could out-compete a dangerous virus or bacteria strain.
Synthetic biology could also be used to create a vaccine or drug to respond to a threatening organism. So, while bioterrorism is a concern, synthetic biology could be used not just to create these threats but also to respond to threats. Bioterrorism is part of the pros and cons of synthetic biology, but it’s hard to say whether it’s a problem or a solution.
Bioterrorism