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Human Allele Frequency Distributions Contradict Current Narratives of Imminent Danger From Genetically Targeted Bioweapons

Chattopadhyay, Subhayan LU orcid ; Lehes, Amanda ; Ingesson, Tony LU orcid ; Larsson, Oscar and Gisselsson, David LU (2026) In Health Security 24(2). p.174-182
Abstract

Warnings of pathogens manufactured to target a specific ethnic group, so-called genetic bioweapons, have recently received considerable media attention. Genetic bioweapons figure prominently in reports on potential future risks emerging from combining genetic research, artificial intelligence and synthetic biology. They are also part of political narratives signaling imminent danger because of ongoing weapons development. However, little is known about the feasibility of genetically targeted weapons from the vantage point of natural genetic variation. To validate the fact base behind the narrative of genetic bioweapons, we analyzed the distribution across ethnic groups of 149 well-validated genetic variants with a role in modulating... (More)

Warnings of pathogens manufactured to target a specific ethnic group, so-called genetic bioweapons, have recently received considerable media attention. Genetic bioweapons figure prominently in reports on potential future risks emerging from combining genetic research, artificial intelligence and synthetic biology. They are also part of political narratives signaling imminent danger because of ongoing weapons development. However, little is known about the feasibility of genetically targeted weapons from the vantage point of natural genetic variation. To validate the fact base behind the narrative of genetic bioweapons, we analyzed the distribution across ethnic groups of 149 well-validated genetic variants with a role in modulating infection. We found only 3 variants that could be used as a basis for ethnic targeting with high specificity, all associated with indolent, treatable infections. In contrast, analysis of 136 variants modulating human response to pharmaceutical agents yielded 6 variants, all associated severe drug side effects in certain ethnicities, while others remained unaffected. We concluded that genetic weapons in the form of targeted pathogens have received unwarranted attention, while misuse of prescription drugs for ethnic targeting is a more imminent risk.

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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Biodefense R&D, Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), Dual-use science, Risk communication, Select agents
in
Health Security
volume
24
issue
2
pages
9 pages
publisher
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
external identifiers
  • pmid:41937340
  • scopus:105039783013
ISSN
2326-5094
DOI
10.1177/23265094261434692
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
0f726dfd-895e-4964-b5e1-60cbe7516581
date added to LUP
2026-06-29 14:25:07
date last changed
2026-09-09 02:03:33
@article{0f726dfd-895e-4964-b5e1-60cbe7516581,
  abstract     = {{<p>Warnings of pathogens manufactured to target a specific ethnic group, so-called genetic bioweapons, have recently received considerable media attention. Genetic bioweapons figure prominently in reports on potential future risks emerging from combining genetic research, artificial intelligence and synthetic biology. They are also part of political narratives signaling imminent danger because of ongoing weapons development. However, little is known about the feasibility of genetically targeted weapons from the vantage point of natural genetic variation. To validate the fact base behind the narrative of genetic bioweapons, we analyzed the distribution across ethnic groups of 149 well-validated genetic variants with a role in modulating infection. We found only 3 variants that could be used as a basis for ethnic targeting with high specificity, all associated with indolent, treatable infections. In contrast, analysis of 136 variants modulating human response to pharmaceutical agents yielded 6 variants, all associated severe drug side effects in certain ethnicities, while others remained unaffected. We concluded that genetic weapons in the form of targeted pathogens have received unwarranted attention, while misuse of prescription drugs for ethnic targeting is a more imminent risk.</p>}},
  author       = {{Chattopadhyay, Subhayan and Lehes, Amanda and Ingesson, Tony and Larsson, Oscar and Gisselsson, David}},
  issn         = {{2326-5094}},
  keywords     = {{Biodefense R&D; Biological Weapons Convention (BWC); Dual-use science; Risk communication; Select agents}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{174--182}},
  publisher    = {{Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.}},
  series       = {{Health Security}},
  title        = {{Human Allele Frequency Distributions Contradict Current Narratives of Imminent Danger From Genetically Targeted Bioweapons}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/23265094261434692}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/23265094261434692}},
  volume       = {{24}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}