Dr. Bruce Alberts, editor of Science magazine, said that the journal will publish the full version of the Fouchier H5N1 influenza virus paper if mechanisms are not developed to ensure circulation of the information to scientists. Alberts made his comments at the American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Vancouver: Our position is …
Norton Zinder made two important discoveries in the field of virology. While a Ph.D. student with Joshua Lederberg at the University of Wisconsin-Madison he found that viruses of bacteria (bacteriophages) could move genes from one host to another, a process called transduction. Later in his own laboratory at The Rockefeller University he isolated the first …
Several panelists from the recent influenza H5N1 dual-use forum at the New York Academy of Sciences spoke with Brendan Maher of Nature News to discuss their position. Participants in this video include Laurie Garrett, Michael Osterholm, Ian Lipkin, Vincent Racaniello, and Veronique Kiermer. Update: The New York Academy of Sciences has posted video of the …
Nature video: Debating research on avian influenza H5N1 virus Read More »
Howard Markel, Professor of the history of medicine at the University of Michigan, in the New York Times: The censorship of influenza research will do little to prevent its misuse by evildoers,and it may well hinder our ability to stop influenza outbreaks, whether natural or otherwise, when they do occur. In this case, censorship is too …
The National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) has published “Adaptations of Avian Flu Virus Are a Cause for Concern”, an explanation of their recommendations with respect to influenza H5N1 research (versions at Science and Nature). It starts with the statement that advances in technology now allow manipulation of microbial genomes in ways that could be misused, leading to global …
Peter Palese and Taia Wang have written a compelling article that uses scientific facts to address the controversy over publication of research involving transmission of avian influenza H5N1 in ferrets. In response to calls in the media to destroy the viruses, curtail the research, and protect the public from frightening research, they write that “fear …
