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Posted by: Abstruse Oct 31 2003, 12:35 AM

http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99994318

The United States have commisioned the University of St. Louis to genetically alter the smallpox virus so that it kills 100% of lab mice that if infects. It cannot infect humans yet, but they are also working on a cowpox virus which CAN affect humans...

Anyone else really scared?

The Abstruse One

Posted by: OurTeam Oct 31 2003, 02:18 AM

Nope. It's the University of St. Louis.

Posted by: Tziluthi Oct 31 2003, 02:40 AM

Interesting after the huge stink they had with Iraq over bio-weapons. Can anyone say "double-standard'?

Personally, the thought of George W. F*ckwit with anything more powerful in his hand than a capgun scares the hell out of me.

Posted by: Siege Oct 31 2003, 02:47 AM

Although I have to admit, I would be interested in knowing the justification for such research.

-Siege

Posted by: Dim Sum Oct 31 2003, 02:51 AM

Hold on a sec - the United States is a signatory to a ban on biological and chemical weapons use AND RESEARCH. Now an American university is looking into how they can create a killer virus that can infect humans? Is this for real or just taken out of context?

Posted by: Siege Oct 31 2003, 03:03 AM

The reason the US kept stockpiles of bio-weapons previously: to develop countermeasures. Antidotes, antibodies, etc.

That's one possible explanation, but like I said I don't know the stated reason for this research.

Granted, knowing how a virus could mutate might provide some insights into related branches of research. But the maybe benefit in that instance doesn't outweigh the potential risk of creating such a dangerous weapon.

-Siege

Posted by: Kagetenshi Oct 31 2003, 03:05 AM

It was a few months ago that Bush was asking Congress to allow the reimplementation of the US Chemical Weapons programs, so I'm not surprised.

~J

Posted by: Siege Oct 31 2003, 03:06 AM

Posted by: Kanada Ten Oct 31 2003, 03:07 AM

Certainly fits with the "we want to build a military no one can fight" doesn't it?

Posted by: Buzzed Oct 31 2003, 03:53 AM

I have yet to find a Bush basher that can suggest an alternate strategy for rebuilding Iraq.

Posted by: Tanka Oct 31 2003, 03:56 AM

Here's one: Nuke the entire Middle East and let it wallow in radioactive misery until who-cares-when.

Posted by: Kanada Ten Oct 31 2003, 04:07 AM

Posted by: Kagetenshi Oct 31 2003, 04:13 AM

Not knock it down.

~J

Posted by: Siege Oct 31 2003, 05:39 AM

I would have been more impressed if Bush had a more realistic expectation of the consequences.

That being said, this isn't the dear departed lounge and I think we'd better nip this in the bud before we get an official warning to knock it off.

-Siege