Why Gene Editors Like CRISPR/Cas May Be a Game-Changer for Neuroweapons

Abstract

This year marks the Eighth Review Conference (RevCon) of the Biological Toxins and Weapons Convention (BWC). At the same time, ongoing international efforts to further and more deeply investigate the brain's complex neuronal circuitry are creating unprecedented capabilities to both understand and control neurological processes of thought, emotion, and behavior. These advances have tremendous promise for human health, but the potential for their misuse has also been noted, with most discussions centering on research and development of agents that are addressed by existing BWC and Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) proscriptions. In this article, we discuss the dual-use possibilities fostered by employing emergent biotechnologic techniques and tools-specifically, novel gene editors like clustered regular interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-to produce neuroweapons. Based on our analyses, we posit the strong likelihood that development of genetically modified or created neurotropic substances will advance apace with other gene-based therapeutics, and we assert that this represents a novel-and realizable-path to creating potential neuroweapons. In light of this, we propose that it will be important to re-address current categorizations of weaponizable tools and substances, so as to better inform and generate tractable policy to enable improved surveillance and governance of novel neuroweapons.

Keywords: Biosecurity policy; CRISPR; Dual-use neuroscience; Gene editing; Neurotherapeutic pathways; Neuroweapon.

Figure 1.

Pathway Spectrum Across Potential Weapon Agents. This diagram provides a schematic of traditional weapons pathways, with a new distinction realized through gene editing in the central shaded sphere.

Figure 2.

Gene Editing's Potential Impacts on the Brain. Gene editing technologies will enable both modification of entities which can affect brain function (indirect affectors) and also lead to functional gene discovery and modeling that can create entities that alter structure and function of brain cells (eg, neurons and glia). In either case, the goals will be to alter neurophysiologic, cognitive-emotional, and/or behavioral states. These approaches can be employed to engender novel neurotherapeutics and/or neuroweapons.