The Opening of Biotech

RockinRobStar writes "ABC Science have posted an article about an Australian geneticist, Dr Richard Jefferson, pushing for "free access to the scientific tools of modern biology and genetics...just as computer programming tools were shared in the open source software movement." "The scientific tools...would be licensed under a similar agreement as the general public licence". Dr Jefferson plans to present his program to the World Economic Forum in January."

Re:Uhoh

[Angostura]

What?! My licence specifically says that I am allowed to make one (1) copy of myself for off-site back-up.

Great, now we're going to have 5C13nCe n00b5

[3.5 stripes]

The big question is who is going to write the manuals. It's not as if biotech isn't already difficult enough.

Aren't we past this?

[teamhasnoi]

Openness? I can't see how the biotech, medical, and defense companies could make a profit by giving the tools to research and create to just anyone.

Plus, wouldn't this put the tools of terrorism in the hands of those who would destroy us for the sake of tens of virgins in the afterlife?

The safe thing to do is to hide all knowledge of these technologies from everyone who isn't a corporation based in the U.S.. That way, these tools can only be used for the good of the human race.

Bleh.

Re:Uhoh

[Noren]

... but you're not allowed to have two copies of yourself running at the same time.

Re:Why this is a bad idea.

[mrtroy]

Currently cheap drugs from Canada flood the US. These drugs are exactly identical to more expensive US drugs but the cheap prices hurt the drug companies, which in turn hurts America. This cannot continue. US drug companies contribute millions of dollars to politicians every year, without these contributions people may hear ugly truths about them. This must stop.

Apparently you havent been watching American news. THE DRUGS ARENT SAFE!
Americanos: "These drugs are under no restrictions and are not safe!"
Canadians: "Yes, they are safe, and we have pretty much the same restrictions as you do, and the drugs are identical to the ones you sell, they are just sold be different providers, and due to our market differences, ours are cheaper"
Americanos: "But they are cheaper! And our companies are losing business! This means they are bad."
Canadians: "Well, if you dont like them, stop them at the border" (I was happy when I heard that)
Americanos: "We cannot! We will put more news articles out there about how unsafe your drugs are!"

Obviously, these drugs are unsafe, and illegal.

Re:Oh Christ that's scary.

[limabone]

Well maybe I'm just the kind of guy who says 'The cup is half full of terrorists!'

awesome

[mabu]

This would be cool. With open-source biotech, it would likely be a matter of months before we'd have single-celled creatures capable of administering Quake servers!

Why I like it...

[sirgoran]

If it means I'll get my flying monkey-man or dogs that spit bees, I'm all over it!

-Goran