N THURSDAY, 38 prominent biologists issued a dire warning: Within a few decades, scientists will be able to create a microbe that could cause an unstoppable pandemic, devastating crop losses or the collapse of entire ecosystems. The scientists called for a ban on research that could lead to synthesis of such an organism.
"The consequences could be globally disastrous," said Jack W Szostak, a Nobel-prize-winning chemist at the University of Chicago who helped write a 299-page technical report on the risks of the research. In an accompanying commentary in the journal Science, Szostak and his colleagues warned that an organism created with the new technology could cause "extraordinarily damaging consequences for the environment, agriculture, and human well-being."
Denne historien er fra December 22, 2024-utgaven av Financial Express Kochi.
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Denne historien er fra December 22, 2024-utgaven av Financial Express Kochi.
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Film fest raises toast to women, Kerala hopes industry follows
When she set out to direct her first feature film, Adithya Baby had an army of university classmates as her cast and crew.
Maharashtra portfolios: CM keeps home; Pawar gets finance
MAHARASHTRA CHIEF MINISTER Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday allocated portfolios to his council of ministers, retaining the crucial Home department with him.
AAP rejects claims of nod to prosecute Kejriwal
AAM AADMI PARTY leaders in Delhi, including chief minister Atishi, on Saturday rejected claims that Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has granted sanction to the Enforcement Directorate to prosecute party supremo Arvind Kejriwal in the alleged excise policy scam.
US shutdown averted, with funding bill rushed by Senate
Gets overwhelming approval in the House of 366-34
Research on altering fundamental DNA, protein structures could lead to synthesis of lethal organisms
Research on altering fundamental DNA, protein structures could lead to synthesis of lethal organisms
How to repair the planet? An answer hides in plain sight
What if we're looking at environmental problems the wrong way? What if we tackled them as a whole, instead of individually?
Shame and hypocrisy
What really nauseated me about the shenanigans in Parliament last week was the hypocrisy. Manifest in the attempt by everyone on all sides of the political divide to exhibit their love for Dr Ambedkar in silly ways.
Battle for Mont Choisy
A Sunday showdown at the 2024 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open golf finale
Big blows for the Constitution
Congress but Indira Gandhi apologized and vowed that Emergency would never be repeated. The people accepted her apology and voted her and the Congress back to power with a thumping majority in 1980.
Don't rot your brain
Oxford's Word of the Year 2024 is 'brain rot', the 'supposed deterioration of a person's mental state'. Know how we are frying our brains, and how to check it
