Tony Ingesson

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.