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This paper examines the role of ethics in research with potential applicability to chemical and biological warfare. If focuses upon biological warfare research, and examines the ethical dilemmas faced by those working with dual-use potential technologies. It discusses the normative, legal and ethical prohibitions against participation in chemical and biological warfare programmes from a Western perspective. It examines the motivations of individuals participating in CBW research and concludes with recommendations for increasing awareness about ethical and normative prohibitions. An appendix lists the results of a survey of ethical codes in relevant scientific disciplines conducted via the Internet.

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