Audio Transcript

Mollie Halpern: The FBI is empowering the world’s future scientists to become guardians of the new field of synthetic biology, which is the combination of life sciences and computer science, engineering, and design principles. Supervisory Special Agent Edward You of the FBI’s Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate…

Edward You: Synthetic biology poses some incredible benefits, but there are some risks involved, too.

Halpern: The potential exists for the technology and its applications to be exploited for criminal purposes. The FBI will engage nearly 3,000 science students from around the globe about the risks at the annual competition of the International Genetically Engineered Machine, or iGEM, later this month in Boston. There, students will bid for bragging rights to the best genetically engineered projects while being encouraged to safeguard science.

Edward You: …to address emerging issues and try to identify current or future security challenges in the life sciences.

Halpern: This outreach effort is one way the FBI will stay ahead of the threat posed by synthetic biology and build partnerships between law enforcement and the scientific community.

Edward You: Now is the time to be able to identify the vulnerabilities and then start setting up mitigation measures.

Halpern: With FBI, This Week, I’m Mollie Halpern of the Bureau.