To what extent should scientists be allowed to experiment with new viruses?

Question

This is with the assumption that the virus itself could potentially cause harm to humanity.

Answer 1

they should not be able to experiment only observe.

Answer 2

A virus is just a package with instructions (DNA) inside. If they take out the bad old instructions (harmful) and replace them with good instructions to make proteins that someone needs to live, then it is a good experiment and should be encouraged, provided all safety measures are taken into account. That is the future of "gene therapy".

If you think about it, we have already been doing this on a very crude scale with vaccines. They are often made from altered viruses and virus parts that have been rendered harmless. We are now making vaccines against cancer and will soon be making them against auto-immune diseases. All of that is good.

I don't think scientists are all so stupid now as to make random dangerous viruses that could harm people or recombine with other viruses to harm people.

Where there could be a real problem of course, is when a virus is intentionally engineered ar a biological weapon. That is a very different matter. No one should be allowed to do it.

Answer 3

To experiment with existing viruses, they should have unlimited ability, provided they have the proper training and protective gear/facilities.  It's how scientists figure out the workings of viruses, and hopefully down the line, ways to combat them.  For example, if we were to say "HIV is too dangerous to experiment with," then we would lose nearly all hope of finding a cure or vaccination.

To create new viruses, though, is going too far.  I have no qualms with genetic modification for a wide range of purposes, but bioweapons definitely cross the line.  They are uncontrollable and have the potential to backfire.  What's more, they can't discriminate between enemy combatants and innocent civilians.  Worst of all, they have no reliable 'off' switch.  The ability of viruses to mutate would add even more unpredictability, making the whole thing a very bad idea.