Target Acquired

Recent advances in genomics and genetic engineering have led to a plethoraof new insights and discoveries about human history, evolution, and migrations,as well as to the unmasking of fundamental information about people sunique traits including their likenesses and differences, as well as theirvarying susceptibilities to diseases. Nowhere has this been more strikingthan in the field of infectious diseases, where human genomic differencescan now be leveraged to manufacture transmissible microorganisms thatcan infect people selectively while leaving other people unscathed. Theresult is a rapidly increasing potential for the precise targeting of biologicalwarfare agents against both adversaries and ordinary citizens alike. All thatis necessary is to identify systematic differences in the genomic make-up ofdifferent people and societal subgroups to develop microbiologic agents thatwill target their unique genomic characteristics selectively. In the wrong hands,such capabilities can be used to control both the attitudes and behaviors ofentire human populations, and to subjugate and conquer them. These newgene editing techniques mean that biological warfare agents have a newcapability that permits person-specific viruses to be created and dispersedto find their targets. Moreover, those who control the libraries of humangenomic information can selectively target anyone, anywhere, anytime, forany reason all without risk of traceability, accountability, or culpability. Asearly attempts to humanize viruses such as SARS (SARS CoV-1), MERS(MERS-CoV), and COVID-19 (SARS CoV-2) have demonstrated, guardingagainst the use of weaponized viruses for such malign control of individualsand even whole societies will be the next great challenge faced by humanity.