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| Elements of Dark Biotechnology |
Every science has dark sides that
are not beneficial for humans, living organisms, and the environment.
Similarly, Biotechnology has vast applications for human welfare, animals, and
the environment but it has also a dark side. Dark Biotechnology is related to the
dark sides of Biotechnology and is connected with bioterrorism, biowarfare, and
biological weapons.
In other words, applications of
microorganisms, and their products like toxins for causing diseases and death
in targeted organisms, animals, plants, and humans are called Dark Biotechnology. It
also includes destroying agricultural crops, livestock, water-based vegetation,
and fisheries to harm the Bioeconomy of the enemy.
In this field of Biotechnology,
all research works are related to the investigation of pathogenic organisms that
are virulent and resistant type, identification, and by applying
biotechnological techniques converting them into biological weapons for
targeted organisms.
Broadly we can say the Dark color
of Biotechnology includes all research works related to microorganisms against
the human welfare and living organism that including the production of
bioweapons, biowarfare, and bioterrorism.
It also includes the studies of
toxins that can cause disease, harmful effects, and death in humans, animals,
and plants. We can say that dark biotechnology is exploring the negative side
of biological sciences. Biotechnological techniques are used now to engineer the
organisms to be more effective for use in bioweapon development.
You Should Read: Various Colors of Biotechnology
Parts of Dark Biotechnology
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| Different Parts of Dark Biotechnology |
The dark side of Biotechnology
mainly deals with all types of activities related to wars, weapons development,
and terrorism by using Biotechnological techniques. For a better understanding of Dark Biotechnology, we can divide it into three major parts.
- Bioweapon
- Biowarfare
- Bioterrorism
Now we understand each term
deeply.
1. Bioweapon (Biological Weapon)
Any microbiological agent or its
products that can cause the disease, harmful effects, and death of the targeted organism can be said as a Bioweapon or Biological weapon. It can be bacteria,
viruses, protozoa, rickettsia, fungi, and biological toxins produced by
microorganisms, plants, or animals.
Biological weapons are very
inexpensive in nature that provide a very effective tool to cause terror in
widespread societies, and whole nations. Biological weapons are cheaper, more
targeted, and have lots of diversity. Microorganisms used as Bioweapons cause
anthrax, brucella, plague, Q fever, viral encephalitis, viral haemorrhagic
fever, tularemia, smallpox, etc. on the targets.
Bio-weapons are capable to harm
humans, crops, livestock, animals, or the entire environment. Its efficiency or
work nature may be different as per requirement. They can harm very slowly or
work instantly to kill targeted organisms. Bioweapons, similar to weapons
able in mass killings, so terrorists can use them to cause great damage.
Examples of such Bioweapons are Anthrax, Botulinum, Tularemia, and Variola.
By applying Biotechnological
techniques like genetically engineering on biological organisms converts them
into the most dangerous Bioweapons that have the potential to produce more
extensive and devastating effects on human populations than conventional
weapons.
2. Biowarfare
It is a method of warfare where Bioweapons
are used to kill or damage humans, animals, plants, and living organisms. Biological
agents that are used as Bioweapons may be microorganisms or toxins and can be
used to spread deadly diseases by means of air, water, and food products.
Biowarfare is different from
natural pandemics like the bubonic plague in 1347, Smallpox in 1351, cholera
pandemic in 1817–1824, Influenza flu pandemic in 1889, Spanish flu between
1918, etc. The recent COVID-19 pandemic in 2019 is also different from Biowarfare.
Biowarfare is different from natural pandemics in the sense of intention only.
But both cause the same results.
3. Bioterrorism
Bioterrorism is a type of
terrorism where Bioweapons are used in Biowarfare. In other words, the
intentional use of harmful biological agents to violence against persons,
society, and nations is called Bioterrorism. Bioterrorism is a global level
serious concern because it can be used by terrorist groups against nations.
Bioterrorism is the main concern
of any nation for the security of its public. So it is the main responsibility
of the nation to conduct research on Bioterrorism. A bioterrorism attack is
limited to only a small number of targeted people in a public place that causes
a public health emergency in the country. So it is very necessary to protect
themselves from any Bioterrorist attack it is necessary to develop the
techniques to detect a Bioweapons attack in advance.
You Should Solve: Free Online MCQs on Biotechnology
History of Biowarfare and Bioterrorism
The history of this Biowarfare
goes back for centuries. The first reported Bioterrorism case was found when the
Assyrians poisoned the well water with the toxin-producing fungus (Ergot) in
the 6th century B.C. Again a Biowarfare was reported when the decomposing
bodies of war victims were intentionally thrown into enemy territory in the
1340 war in Northern France.
In 1972, Chicago police were
arrested two college students for planning to poison the city's water supply
with Biological agents that causes typhoid. In recent times the use of
biological weapons was reported by Japan against China during World War II in 1936.
The latest Bioterrorism was reported
between September and October 2001, soon after the terrorist attack on the
World Trade Centre in New York on September 11, 2001. When the deliberately
infectious anthrax letters were concurrently delivered to news media offices
and the U.S Congress.
Examples of Bioweapons
The most dangerous bioweapons are
mainly contagious microorganisms that have the capability to live in an
environment in extreme conditions. These include majorly pathogenic viruses,
bacteria, and fungi. There are lots of Bioweapons that are used in Biowarfare
against humans, animals, and agricultural crops. Here we listed some of the
major Biological weapons' names and details.
1. Bacillus Anthracis (Anthrax)
It is the most deadly Bioweapon
of Biowarfare. It is gram-positive rod-shaped spores of Bacillus anthracis
bacteria. Its odorless and tasteless spores make Anthrax a deadly Bio-weapon.
2. Botulinum Toxin
Botulinum Toxin is produced by
Clostridium botulinum and is the most dangerous known toxin. It causes Botulism in
humans which is a lethal muscle-paralyzing disease. C. botulinum grows in
spoiled canned food. It is so harmful, its 1 g of botulism dispersed in the air
can kill 1 million people.
3. Variola major (Smallpox)
Smallpox is a deadly contagious
viral disease that has been caused by Variola major virus. It caused the death
of 300 million people during the 20th century.
4. Ebola
Another deadly virus was
first detected in 1976 and killed thousands of people in Africa. It destroys
mainly humans' immune systems. Not only humans it also kills livestock like
cows. Ebola virus-infected persons have a high case-fatality rate.
5. Bubonic Plague
Commonly called Plague, an
infectious disease caused by the bacterium called Yersinia pestis and is generally
found in rats and fleas. It spreads through respiratory droplets during
face-to-face contact with the infected patients. It causes fever, weakness, and
pneumonia and, if not treated early-stage, it leads to respiratory failure and
death.
Try to Solve: Quiz on Colors of Biotechnology
Conclusion
Every science has two sides
similarly, Biotechnology has also a dark side. Bioweapons, Biowarfare, and
Bioterrorism come under Dark Biotechnology. Biotechnology techniques are used
for the development of Bioweapons that are very cheaper than conventional
weapons and more lethal.
Terrorists and criminals use
Bioweapons to harm the targeted persons, society, and nations. Biowarfare
causes result similar to natural pandemic situations but it differs in the
sense only that Biowarfares are man-made not natural. To protect themselves
from bioterrorism, every country works on various technologies to how to recover
from the Bioweapons attack.
