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You can order genes online, and some say you can assemble using stuff cobbled together in a home lab rather easily. For the last 20 years, I've personally felt that bio-terrorism is the highest possible risk, well above nuclear, or chemical warfare. But it does take training, expertise, or, it did.


Then stop selling genes online?

It’s like saying you sell ammonium nitrate and fuel oil online and then saying it’s too risky to let people have computers in case they use them to make ANFO. They can only make bioweapons because you’re selling them bioweapon components! They can’t make genes at home!


The companies selling genes online already scan the orders and do not fulfill anything considered a possible hazard (presumably unless it is to a known and certified lab at a serious organization).

And, this is not the only way to make genes at home.

It is a complex problem.


A fair response in general, but it's not as if I advocate it, or run a company doing it. I'm simply stating fact.

And I will point out that "stop doing that" can be applied in both directions, towards AI and towards material supply.

And that this is one way, not even remotely the only way, that gene editing at home is easy.

Again, these are just facts.

Some questions...

Is it fair to restrict AI, or fair to restrict 1000 industries?

And if it is fair to restrict 1000 industries, OK, but there should be time to do so, probably? A transition period?

And if you do restrict, many such industries just make needed chemicals, which are used by endless other, non-threatening industries.

What of them?




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