
Special Episode: Engineering the Apocalypse
Making Sense with Sam Harris
The Risks and Rewards of Democratizing Synthetic Biology
This chapter examines the rapid democratization of synthetic biology, allowing high school students to conduct complex experiments previously reserved for elite scientists. It highlights the potential dangers of accessible biotechnology, including the rise of malicious actors who could exploit these technologies to create catastrophic pathogens. The discussion emphasizes the need for safeguards and ethical oversight to navigate the challenges posed by this exponential growth in biological capabilities.
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