Ch. 10— The Question of Risk • 199 
Figure 35.— Flow Chart of Possible Consequences of Using Genetically Engineered Micro-Organisms 
Micro-organism 
- Knctjm ha^^dnis 
Suspected safe 
For environment 
mar 
For environment 
For man 
laterttion0 releae^ 
B. Inadwteni r« 
C. tTTtenlioPiil release LJ Intentional release 
I— p. laedvertent re^r^fs^ 
Intentional release 
-E. Proves hazardous -I. Proves hazardous 
- F. Remains safe 
J. Remains safe 
— Inadvertent release 
Inadvertent release 
SOURCE; Office of Technology Assessment. 
G. Proves hazardous 
K. 
Proves hazardous 
H. Remains safe 
L. 
Remains safe 
produced by them. It must be assumed that 
those ^\ ho signed did so in good faith. 
While there is no way to judge the likelihood 
of dex elopments in this area, the problems that 
would accompany any attempt to use pathogen- 
ic micro-organisms in warfare— difficulties in 
controlling spread, protection of one’s own 
troops and population— tend to discourage the 
use of genetic engineering for this purpose.* 
Similarly, the danger that these techniques 
might be used by terrorists is lessened by the 
scientific sophistication needed to construct a 
more virulent organism than those that can 
•.Although stockpiling of biological warfare agents is prohibited, 
research into new agents is not. 
already be obtained— e.g., encephalitis viruses 
or toxin-producing bacteria like C. botulinum or 
C. tetani. 
Some discussions have centered around the 
possibility of accidents caused by a break in con- 
tainment. Construction of potentially harmful 
micro-organisms will probably continue to be 
prohibited by the Guidelines; exceptions will be 
made only under the most extraordinary cir- 
cumstances. To date, no organism known to be 
more harmful than the organism serving as the 
source of DNA has been constructed. 
However, the biggest controversy has cen- 
tered around unforeseen harm — that micro- 
organisms thought safe might prove harmful. 
