Do The Causes Or Gain-Of-Function Pathogens?

“Pathogens are infectious agents, such as a bacterium, virus, fungus or parasite, that cause disease when they colonize a host organism” (Pathogens). Pathogens have plagued societies time and time again. In the past people never had a way to fight them. But now the research into these deadly pathogens has brought many cures and vaccines to societies to protect them against these pathogens. Although the research into these diseases is not just to find cures and vaccines anymore, companies and organizations have recently started researching into GOF pathogens or gain-of-function pathogens. These pathogens have been modified to be transmitted faster, transmitted easier, or to be more lethal. The process of researching and enhancing pathogens has

But is that result worth it if in the process millions of lives are lost by making the gain-of-function pathogens? And what limits the research to just for vaccines and cures? By creating gain-of-function pathogens not only are scientist creating cures, they are creating weapons. Weapons that are not limited to a certain area like explosives. They are not weapons that can be aimed and controlled. These new weapons could end our species if they become advanced enough. In September of 2001, “biologist Bruce E. Ivins single-handedly prepared and mailed deadly anthrax spores that killed five people” (Warrick). In this case one biologist killed five people with anthrax. Imagine if a terrorist group developed an enhanced stain of a pathogen and released it, millions of people could die. Soon this will actually be a possibility. With the research into these pathogens developing new deadlier strains has become a lot easier. Researching gain-of-function pathogens is undoubtedly highly dangerous, although outlawing the research permanently is not the right thing because it would limit vaccines and cures to diseases. The research into gain-of-function pathogens should just be restricted until the research can be guaranteed that it can be done safely. “395 reported ‘potential release events’ of ‘a biological agent or toxin that is considered to pose ‘a severe threat’ to human, animal or plant health’ occurred in U.S.

The viruses scientist, in this field, work with have been enhanced to be more deadly and be transmitted easier. The research into enhanced pathogens could save lives because of creation of vaccines and cures for diseases and viruses, but in doing so risks the lives of everyone by risking exposing the diseases to the public and causing a pandemic. Researching gain-of-function pathogens should be restricted until it can be done safely without risking people’s lives. By researching enhanced pathogens scientists are enabling deadlier diseases and viruses to be created easier. By making these diseases and viruses easier to manufacture scientists are making it easier for people to develop them. Terrorists could use gain-of-function pathogens as biological weapons in terrorist attacks killing millions of people. In 2001 a deadly disease known as Anthrax was used to assassinate two United States Senators. No matter how many lives researching gain-of-function pathogens could save, the research should not be permitted. The research is not safe enough for it to be performed. In the last five years alone the United states has suspended this research three times because of safety risks and its threats to our national security. Overall this research has potential to be a great asset to medicine, but until it can be done safely gain-of-function research needs to be