Dual-Use Chemical and Life Science Research of Potential Concern

Abstract

This chapter explores what is happening to the chemical, life, and associated sciences in the first decades of the twenty-first century. It is concluded that a rapid set of advances in converging disciplines is leading to a huge increase in our capabilities to understand the physiology of living organisms and thus our ability to modify such systems. It is then suggested that this is a ‘game changer’ for the potential development of novel toxin and bioregulator weapons—previously weaponeers were only able to modify known agents, but now they will be able to design an ever-increasing number of novel agents that target particular points in victims’ nervous, immune, and hormonal systems. The chapter then demonstrates that toxicology has been part of this massive advance in the life sciences through an examination of recent work on botulinum toxin, staphylococcal enterotoxins, bioregulators, and advances in neuroimmunology. In conclusion it is argued that the advances taking place are probably soon going to give us a coherent and detailed understanding of how toxin and bioregulators act on living systems. Although such advances have important medical and other beneficial applications, the dangers for malign use must also be recognised and addressed.