Pandora’s Box Opened Wide

Integration of emerging technologies in Micro Unmanned Air Vehicles (MAVs), Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS), Nanotechnology, Biomimetics, and genetic research may enable the creation of very small (inch or less) MAVs carrying powerful and precise genetic weapons, possibly within twenty years. The precision effect created by precise MAV delivery and/or target-specific genetic weapons will challenge existing paradigms that currently ban biological weapons. It is not clear whether such a weapon is banned by the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention or violates self-defense doctrines. This hypothetical weapon may represent an attractive asymmetric means for potential adversaries to counter conventionally powerful nations. A review of open source material shows that the basic science of the required enabling technologies already exists, and is likely to mature rapidly on its own merit for dual use applications in commercial industry, medical therapy or conventional military systems, making counter-proliferation difficult.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.