Bioweapon 1: Chimera Viruses

Plague, smallpox, anthrax -- the world's deadliest biological agents aren't out to get you. Any harmful
properties they possess are simply byproducts of their evolution. But what happens when scientists tinker
with the genetic makeup of these organisms? What kind of horrors may come to life when we add the
human desire to wage war to their natural design? Unfortunately, the creation of such life forms isn't just a
page from a science fiction novel -- it's already happening.
chimera viruses
U. Bellhaeuser /ScienceFoto/Getty Images
Modern genetic science allows us unprecedented power to manipulate organisms -- a power that, in the
wrong hands, can lead to the creation of new, horrific bioweapons.

In Greek and Roman mythology, the chimera combined elements of lion, goat and serpent into one
monstrous form. Artists in the late medieval age often used the creature as a symbol to illustrate the
complex nature of evil. In modern genetic science, a chimeric organism is a life form that contains genes
from a foreign species. Given its namesake, you might expect all chimeric organisms to be awful examples
of man twisting nature for nefarious ends. Fortunately, our increased understanding of genetic science has
led to some beneficial creations. One such chimera, which combines the common cold with polio, may help
cure brain cancer.

But as the war continues its forward momentum through human history, the abuse of such science is
inevitable. Geneticists have already discovered the means to increase the lethality of such bioweapons as
smallpox and anthrax by tweaking their genetic structure. By combining genes, however, scientists could
theoretically create a virus that triggered two diseases at once. During the late 1990s, the Soviet Union's
Chimera Project studied the feasibility of combining smallpox and Ebola into one super virus [source:
Alibek].

Other potential nightmare scenarios involve strains of viruses that require certain triggers. A stealth virus
would remain dormant for an extended period until triggered by predetermined stimuli. Other possible
chimeric bioweapons might require two components to become effective. Imagine a strain of botulinum
toxin that, when combined with the botulinum toxin antidote, only becomes more lethal. Such a biological
attack would not only result in a higher mortality rate, but might erode public trust in health initiatives, aid
workers and government response to the outbreak.

From splitting the atom to cracking life's genomic riddles, the last century of scientific research has brought
about tremendous potential for humans to build a better world -- or destroy the one they have.

Explore the links on the next page to learn more about biological weapons n epidemic diseases.