Biotechnology
Biotechnology’s dual-use nature reveals that the same tools advancing healthcare, research & innovation, and environmental science can also be misused for illicit purposes.
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Up Front: Advancements in biotechnology, driven by artificial intelligence, machine learning, computing power, and emerging science, pose significant risks to biological and ecological systems. ​Scientific breakthroughs and increased access to biotechnology and data are lowering technical barriers for state and non-state actors to produce, spread, and potentially develop novel or advanced biological & chemical weapons, agents, and drugs. Besides creating economic rivalries between nations through breakthroughs in drugs, therapies, and automated systems, biotechnology research could be used for human enhancement, particularly in genetic experimentation on soldiers. Alternatively, nations could target adversaries with bioweapons while making their populations resistant to those bioagents. Unchecked breakthroughs and the potential misuse of biotechnologies could radically alter global security, public health, and ecosystems, causing irreversible harm and making biotechnology a global disruptive technology.​
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What is Biotechnology?
Biotechnology merges biology, engineering, medicine, and plant science, which enables scientific and technological developments in many areas of science and industry sectors. Biotechnology, broadly defined, applies molecular biology advances to human and animal health, agriculture, environmental protection, and biochemical manufacturing. Areas or concentrations in modern biotechnology include genetic engineering, biopharmaceuticals, the human genome project, synthetic biology, and CRISPR. ​
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So What?
While advancements in biotechnology and synthetic biology offer significant benefits, they also raise serious concerns due to their potential for misuse. This dynamic leads to the complex challenge of regulating this dual-use technology. The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), export controls, non-proliferation efforts, and other international and local initiatives and regulations are not enough to mitigate the dark side of biotechnology. Biotechnology presents a broad range of concerns, with both theoretical and real harms, including compromising crop and livestock sectors, disrupting supply chains, emerging novel diseases, regulatory gaps, unethical gene editing, lab accidents, and environmental damage.
In this video, Professor Abigail Coplin breaks down what biotechnology is, showing how it spans fields like health, agriculture, and material sciences, and explaining how it is increasingly intertwined with AI and machine learning in R&D across many sectors (see 0:01-1:40).
Several experts believe the evolving threat landscape surrounding biotechnology is driven by two key factors: (1) new scientific advances lowering the barriers to creating and spreading biological weapons, and (2) growing knowledge of biological systems, aided by big data, AI, and automation, enabling faster and more targeted bioengineering.
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Images Source: Biodefense Posture Review
The Biotech Risks
There are wide-ranging risks and concerns surrounding advances in biotechnology. As noted above, the two main issues are increased accessibility and advancements in fields like AI, which together lower barriers and enhance capabilities for state and non-state actors to misuse the technology. Below are some of the specific risks and concerns (hover over each image for more information):​​​​​​​​
WORLDWIDE
The COVID-19 pandemic revealed how a novel virus had worldwide effects, severely impacting economies, societies, and public health. Nations could seek to develop viruses to cause similar effects on target adversaries while protecting their populations with vaccines or countermeasures.
Image Source: Journal of Cleaner Production
In 2020, then–U.S. Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe revealed that China had conducted human testing on People's Liberation Army (PLA) members to develop biologically enhanced soldiers. Earlier academic reports and research have highlighted China's pursuit of human genetic modification for military purposes. By integrating efforts across military, academic, and commercial sectors, China has explored brain-computer interfaces, AI-enhanced cognition, and genetic alterations to boost traits like intelligence and physical strength. These reports raise serious ethical, governance, and strategic concerns about the future of human genetic modification and global biosecurity.
Image Source: NBC News
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Technologies like AI systems, both open-source and proprietary, along with drones, have lowered the technological and operational barriers for non-state actors to research, develop, and deploy biological weapons targeting crops and animals. While not an example of a biological weapon, North Carolina-based researchers used an AI system designed for drug discovery to generate over 40,000 potentially lethal molecules, similar to VX nerve agent. Presented at a biological arms control conference, the study showed that similar results could be easily replicated with basic coding, open-source toxicity data, and internet access.
Image Source: Innovation News Network
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Unsanctioned, unregulated, and unethical human gene editing: In 2018, Chinese scientist He Jiankui announced the birth of the world's first gene-edited babies, using CRISPR-Cas9 to disable the CCR5 gene in an attempt to make them resistant to HIV. The case sparked global controversy, with critics arguing it resembled human experimentation more than medical treatment. Evidence revealed unintended mutations, potential long-term health risks, and violations of ethical guidelines. Since the CCR5 gene is also linked to cognitive function, the experiment raised concerns about possible attempts at human enhancement.
Image Source: ABC News
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To circumvent regulations, guidelines, and laws, rogue scientists, amateurs, and so-called "biohackers" have conducted unsanctioned and unregulated experiments, ranging from simple device implants to genetic modification and human enhancement. Many individuals travel to or reside in countries where regulations and oversight are minimal. The city of Prospera in Honduras has gained attention as a hub for individuals and companies conducting experiments and hosting events like the annual Grindfest. Companies like Minicircle are using gene therapy to treat conditions such as muscular disorders, HIV, low testosterone, and more. Concerns arise as these experiments are conducted outside regulatory frameworks and enforcement, without certified labs or professionals, and potentially involve secretive procedures that push ethical and moral boundaries.
Image Source: ABC News
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Curious about Biohackers in Honduras
Strategic Competition
Like quantum technology and artificial intelligence, biotechnology is another sector driving intense competition between major powers, especially China and the United States.
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As briefly noted in Prof. Coplin's interview (4:30), the United States has decoupled from technological and scientific collaboration with China over national security concerns (i.e., intellectual property theft). As a result, the Chinese Communist Party has intensified cyber espionage and network intrusions to steal proprietary information and accelerate the development of its industries.
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The 2025 National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) warns that the United States is falling behind in key areas of emerging biotechnology as China advances rapidly.
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Strategic competition between the United States and China in the biotechnological sector spans economic, military, and geopolitical domains. Leading in biotechnology translates to dominance across multiple sectors, including pharmaceuticals, defense, healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, and supply chain, as well as positions the country to shape international norms, regulations, and ethical standards.​​​
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As highlighted by Senator Young during a 2025 House Hearing on Emerging Biotechnology, the CCP heavily supports domestic corporations in R&D and subsidizes them to acquire U.S. companies and intellectual property with promising technologies (7:54-8:30).
Image and News Article Source: Pharmaceutical and Technology
Initiatives and Policies
The 2023 U.S. Department of Defense Biodefense Posture Review acknowledges and addresses the complex range of biological threats, including those emerging from biotechnology. The policy outlines four priorities, which are: defending the homeland against growing multi-domain threats from China; deterring strategic attacks on the United States, and its allies; deterring aggression while preparing to win conflicts (prioritizing China in the Indo-Pacific, followed by Russia in Europe); and building a resilient Joint Force and defense ecosystem. Overall, this national strategic policy addresses key gaps and shortfalls in biodefense and underscores the urgency of confronting growing biothreats.
In March 2025, the Trump administration rescinded former President Biden’s executive order, Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy. According to a White House fact sheet, the order had “funneled Federal resources into radical biotech and biomanufacturing initiatives under the guise of environmental policy.”
As noted by Senator Young and Dr. Rozo in their testimony, the U.S. is falling behind in the biotech sector due to the absence of a coordinated federal strategy, burdensome regulations, inadequate infrastructure, and limited investment.
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As noted in the NCEB 2025 report, the United States must engage in its core strengths, which are an open innovation ecosystem, world-class research institutions, and unmatched capital markets, to maintain leadership in biotechnology rather than attempting to mimic China’s state-driven model. The United States needs a robust public-private partnership that aligns supply-side R&D incentives with demand-side signals to reduce investment risks and catalyze private sector capital.
Additionally, the U.S. government must prioritize protecting American biotechnology intellectual property and data from Chinese state-sponsored corporate espionage, even if it means rejecting attractive investments or relying on more costly alternatives - echoing Senator Young's arguments.
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NSCEB Report, p. 6
International Strategies
The World Health Organization’s 2022 Global Guidance Framework for the Responsible Use of the Life Sciences addresses growing concerns over biorisk governance gaps and offers mechanisms, frameworks, and guidelines to mitigate dual-use research risks. Regarding recent biothreats observed globally, the document highlights that the situation results from the rapid spread of biotechnology, insufficient biorisk governance in many countries, convergence with fields like AI and nanotechnology, and a widespread lack of awareness and incentives to identify and mitigate these risks.
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NATO has prioritized biotechnology and human enhancement technologies as emerging and disruptive technologies since 2019. In early 2024, NATO Allies released the first Biotechnology and Human Enhancement Technologies Strategy, promoting the responsible development, integration, and protection of BHE technologies in defense, aligned with international law and aimed at preventing adversarial misuse. While the strategy acknowledges current risks, threats, and governance gaps, outlines
ethical guidelines, supports the BWC, calls for increased funding and public-private partnerships, and highlights adversarial actions (particularly from Russia and China), it lacks enforcement or verification mechanisms, and its principles remain non-binding.
Image Source: NATO
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The Biological Weapons Convention has played a key role in global security, geopolitics, and economic stability. However, it faces challenges such as lacking the strength of comparable conventions, wide variation in implementation across States Parties, the absence of enforcement or verification mechanisms, and falling behind in addressing rapidly advancing biotechnologies. New technologies, such as AI, are enhancing
are enhancing biotechnological capabilities in genetic engineering, synthetic biology, and biodesign. One recommendation would be to establish a science advisory mechanism to provide real-time, independent scientific guidance that ensures the treaty keeps pace with rapid advances in biotechnology, synthetic biology, and AI while enabling member parties to participate in global biosecurity governance.
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References
United States Government (2022). U.S. National Biodefense Strategy and Implementation Plan for Countering Biological Threats, Enhancing Pandemic Preparedness, and Achieving Global Health Security. https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/National-Biodefense-Strategy-and-Implementation-Plan-Final.pdf​​​​​
Burnham, J. & Johanna Y. (2025). U.S. at Risk of Falling Behind China in Biotechnology. Foundation for Defense of Democracies. https://www.fdd.org/analysis/policy_briefs/2025/04/15/u-s-at-risk-of-falling-behind-china-in-biotechnology/
Petit, Z. (2025). The Strategic Imperative of Biotechnology: Implications for U.S. National Security. Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS). https://www.csis.org/blogs/strategic-technologies-blog/strategic-imperative-biotechnology-implications-us-national
​University of Pennsylvania. (n.d.). What is biotechnology? Penn Engineering Biotechnology. Accessed May 3, 2025, from https://biotech.seas.upenn.edu/what-is-biotechnology/
Caves, J. P. and W. S. (2021). The Future of Weapons of Mass Destruction. An Update. National Intelligence University. ​p. 59. ​
Raposo V. L. (2019). The First Chinese Edited Babies: A Leap of Faith in Science. JBRA assisted reproduction, 23(3), 197–199. https://doi.org/10.5935/1518-0557.20190042
Dilanian, K. (2020). China has done human testing to create biologically enhanced super soldiers, says top U.S. official. NBC News.
Kania, E. and Wilson V. (2019). China’s Military Biotech Frontier: CRISPR, Military-Civil Fusion, and the New Revolution in Military Affairs. The Jamestown Foundation, China Brief Volume: 19 Issue: 18. https://jamestown.org/program/chinas-military-biotech-frontier-crispr-military-civil-fusion-and-the-new-revolution-in-military-affairs/.
Smith, N. R. (2025). DIY biohacker community gathers to compare implants as they seek cybernetic reality. ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/US/diy-biohacker-community-gathers-compare-implants-seek-cybernetic/story?id=119677409.
​ Urbina, F., Filippa L., Cédric I. and Sean E. (2022). Dual use of artificial intelligence-powered drug discovery. Nature Machine Intelligence, Vol. 4, 189-191. https://www.nature.com/articles/s42256-022-00465-9.epdf?sharing_token=oyUCwLohPy91rcuoyf3bwNRgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0M6VuGuVWKcBJFL5U5ocXOA5zcnGmZOUPQzouuai7vI0XuOG1hxcfSUpHakkMxyD1NjtXRFBgFxUa9ZQI7okPtQc-7YkJa4BSKUXZqV75Cr1BQONFfkK_B6nn67L7Rh7c_92RE6JuosmYkZ_81B-0bUnJBxZZwbxRTLfbvJ3yJATyWOIoAWTIjiGe3iLWi-VI8%3D&tracking_referrer=www.theverge.com
​ National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology. (2025). Charting the Future of Biotechnology. National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology. https://www.biotech.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/NSCEB-Full-Report-%E2%80%93-Digital-%E2%80%934.28.pdf
United States Department of Defense (2023). 2023 Biodefense Posture Review. pp. 1-48. https://media.defense.gov/2023/Aug/17/2003282337/-1/-1/1/2023_BIODEFENSE_POSTURE_REVIEW.PDF​
The White House. (2025). Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Rescinds Additional Harmful Biden Executive Actions. https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/03/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-rescinds-additional-harmful-biden-executive-actions/#:~:text=Removing%20Biden%27s%20directive%20to%20prioritize,the%20guise%20of%20environmental%20policy​​
National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology. (2025). Charting the Future of Biotechnology. p. 9. https://www.biotech.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/NSCEB-Full-Report-%E2%80%93-Digital-%E2%80%934.28.pdf
National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology. (2025), p.9
World Health Organization (WHO). (2022). Global guidance framework for the responsible use of the life sciences: Mitigating biorisks and governing dual-use research. p. xxv. https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/362313/9789240056107-eng.pdf?sequence=1.
​ NATO. (2024) Summary of NATO's Biotechnology and Human Enhancement Technologies Strategy. NATO. https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/official_texts_224669.htm.
Rios Rojas, C., Rodríguez, G., Kwehangana, M., & Ahabwe, P. B. (2024). Revolutionizing the Biological Weapons Convention: Integrating Science Diplomacy for Global Security. Perspective. https://doi.org/10.1126/scidip.adt9922
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