Living Weapons tackles biowarfare
Although they caused widespread terror and temporarily paralyzed the U.S. Postal Service in 2001, biological weapons are poorly understood by most. Political scientist and author Gregory Koblentz attempts to rectify this reality in his book Living Weapons: Biological Warfare and International Security.
Koblentz explores the scientific basis of biological weapons and examines why they are so difficult to properly manage. His work uses scientific expertise to illuminate why bioweapons are so uniquely threatening to international security.
One of the biggest misconceptions held by the general public involves just what constitutes a biological weapon. Bioweapons are either composed of or derived from living organisms.
Such agents include: pathogens, such as b. anthracis, which are disease-causing microorganisms; toxins, such as botulinum toxin (also known as Botox, when administered in small, highly regulated doses); and bioregulators, such as insulin or epinephrine, which are chemicals that control functional aspects of the human body.
The author walks his readers through the history of biological warfare, which has been divided into four distinct time periods, defined by the degree to which microbiology was understood.
The first is governed by pre-germ theory. During this period, attackers were forced to rely on fomites, physical objects used to transmit disease, or vectors, living organisms that spread disease. For example, enemies would often catapult corpses into fortified areas, hoping to spread sickness and infect the besieged troops.
The next period saw the use of applied microbiology. With the advent of germ theory, microorganisms were understood as the causative agent of disease. Within this period, the most significant use of bioweapons came from the Japanese, who employed agents leading to anthrax and cholera against the Soviet Union and China. Although these indeed caused epidemics, the rudimentary nature of the biotechnology provided no significant advantage.
Koblentz explores the scientific basis of biological weapons and examines why they are so difficult to properly manage. His work uses scientific expertise to illuminate why bioweapons are so uniquely threatening to international security.
One of the biggest misconceptions held by the general public involves just what constitutes a biological weapon. Bioweapons are either composed of or derived from living organisms.
Such agents include: pathogens, such as b. anthracis, which are disease-causing microorganisms; toxins, such as botulinum toxin (also known as Botox, when administered in small, highly regulated doses); and bioregulators, such as insulin or epinephrine, which are chemicals that control functional aspects of the human body.
The author walks his readers through the history of biological warfare, which has been divided into four distinct time periods, defined by the degree to which microbiology was understood.
The first is governed by pre-germ theory. During this period, attackers were forced to rely on fomites, physical objects used to transmit disease, or vectors, living organisms that spread disease. For example, enemies would often catapult corpses into fortified areas, hoping to spread sickness and infect the besieged troops.
The next period saw the use of applied microbiology. With the advent of germ theory, microorganisms were understood as the causative agent of disease. Within this period, the most significant use of bioweapons came from the Japanese, who employed agents leading to anthrax and cholera against the Soviet Union and China. Although these indeed caused epidemics, the rudimentary nature of the biotechnology provided no significant advantage.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
HID KIT
posted 3/11/10 @ 2:33 PM EST
Living at the top most . Living on the edge.
Disney Games
posted 4/21/10 @ 5:36 PM EST
Thanks for this, it semms getting hold and controlling these bioweapons seems pretty tough to me, looking in from the outsite..
Post a Comment