Why the world has no universal biosafety standards

Silver, Andrew

doi:10.1136/bmj.o954

Cited by 7 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…In 2020, as a potentially important step forward, the International Organization for Standardization (IS) issued an international standard for biorisk management, ISO 35001:2019 ( ISO, 2020 ), but whether and how it is being used is too early to tell ( Callihan et al, 2021 ). In the absence of a sufficient set of internationally recognized biosafety standards and norms ( Gronvall and Rozo, 2015 ; Silver, 2022 ; Hadshar, 2023 ), BMBL also currently sets the international de facto standard. Having said that, it is primarily an advisory document.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The whack-a-mole governance challenge for AI-enabled synthetic biology: literature review and emerging frameworks

Undheim

2024

Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol.

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AI-enabled synthetic biology has tremendous potential but also significantly increases biorisks and brings about a new set of dual use concerns. The picture is complicated given the vast innovations envisioned to emerge by combining emerging technologies, as AI-enabled synthetic biology potentially scales up bioengineering into industrial biomanufacturing. However, the literature review indicates that goals such as maintaining a reasonable scope for innovation, or more ambitiously to foster a huge bioeconomy do not necessarily contrast with biosafety, but need to go hand in hand. This paper presents a literature review of the issues and describes emerging frameworks for policy and practice that transverse the options of command-and-control, stewardship, bottom-up, and laissez-faire governance. How to achieve early warning systems that enable prevention and mitigation of future AI-enabled biohazards from the lab, from deliberate misuse, or from the public realm, will constantly need to evolve, and adaptive, interactive approaches should emerge. Although biorisk is subject to an established governance regime, and scientists generally adhere to biosafety protocols, even experimental, but legitimate use by scientists could lead to unexpected developments. Recent advances in chatbots enabled by generative AI have revived fears that advanced biological insight can more easily get into the hands of malignant individuals or organizations. Given these sets of issues, society needs to rethink how AI-enabled synthetic biology should be governed. The suggested way to visualize the challenge at hand is whack-a-mole governance, although the emerging solutions are perhaps not so different either.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The whack-a-mole governance challenge for AI-enabled synthetic biology: literature review and emerging frameworks

Undheim

2024

Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol.

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“…Numerous pathogens of concern with epidemic potential and few effective countermeasures have been identified 27 . The risks of a pandemic posed by increasing urbanization, global travel and connectivity, and laboratory research have further heightened these concerns 28 . Surveillance testing is central to preparedness plans that aim to contain pathogens of concern, and must be supported by standards that ensure reliable, consistent and trustworthy detection 29 , 30 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Coronavirus Standards Working Group’s roadmap for improved population testing

Mercer

Almond²,

Crone

et al. 2022

Nat Biotechnol

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Laboratory Safety Regulations and Training must Emphasize the Underpinning Research Ethics Perspectives

Tang

2024

J Acad Ethics

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Why the world has no universal biosafety standards

Abstract: The pandemic has put a spotlight on biosafety standards and the need for uniformity across the globe, writes Andrew Silver

Cited by 7 publications

References 5 publications

The whack-a-mole governance challenge for AI-enabled synthetic biology: literature review and emerging frameworks

The whack-a-mole governance challenge for AI-enabled synthetic biology: literature review and emerging frameworks

The Coronavirus Standards Working Group’s roadmap for improved population testing

Laboratory Safety Regulations and Training must Emphasize the Underpinning Research Ethics Perspectives

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