AGROTERRORISM
The deliberate act of a person or group against the agricultural industry and/or food supply system, which could include the use of chemical or biological weapons. Top
ASIAN FLU (H2N2)
Influenzas are identified by the type of haemagglutinin (H1 – H15), which is an antigenic glycoprotein found on the surface of the virus and responsible for binding the virus to the host cell, and neuraminidase (N1 – N9), which is an antigenic glycoprotein enzyme found on the surface of the virus. A virulent type of influenza, H2N2 was first identified in China in late February 1957, the Asian flu spread to the United States by June 1957 where it caused about 70,000 deaths. After 1968, H2 flu disappeared, but was maintained in laboratories for research purposes. Between October 2004 and February 2005, the College of American Pathologists (CAP), a professional body which sends unidentified samples of various germs to laboratories for identification, accidentally released test kits containing H2N2 all over the world and efforts are underway to destroy all the samples. Top
ASILOMAR CONFERENCE
In 1973 after the successful attempt to recombine DNA from one organism with that of another, a group of scientists called for a self-imposed moratorium on certain types of recombinant DNA experiments due to potential risks. Despite no evidence of harm, many scientists complied with the ban and research in the area stagnated. In 1975, a conference at the Asilomar Conference Center brought together 150 scientists from 13 countries, along with attorneys, government officials and members of the press. It was charged to determine whether or not to lift the moratorium and if so to set up strict guidelines under which research could continue safely. Ultimately, the conference produced a set of voluntary guidelines monitoring recombinant DNA experiments. Top
THE AUSTRALIA GROUP
The Australia Group is a group of 38 countries that have a common commitment to combating the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons. The participating countries are suppliers and trans-shippers of chemicals, biological agents and technology that could be used in chemical and biological weapons programs. The group was formed by 15 countries in 1985 to address the spread of chemical weapons and ensure that their industries were not, either deliberately or inadvertently, assisting other states to acquire and use such weapons. Growing evidence of diversion of dual use materials to biological weapons programs led the countries concerned to take steps in 1990 to address the spread of biological weapons. The Australia Group maintains Common Control Lists, including a list of dual use biological equipment, biological agents, plant pathogens and animal pathogens, which serve as standard reference lists internationally. Top
AVIAN FLU (H5N1)
Influenzas are identified by the type of haemagglutinin (H1 – H15), which is an antigenic glycoprotein found on the surface of the virus and are responsible for binding the virus to the host cell, and neuraminidase (N1 – N9), which is an antigenic glycoprotein enzyme found on the surface of the virus. Because it is generally known to infect birds H5N1 is also known as “bird flu”. This type of influenza usually does not affect humans, but in 1997 the first case of transmission from a bird to a human occurred during an outbreak in poultry in Hong Kong . The virus caused severe respiratory illness in 18 people, 6 of whom died. Since this initial outbreak, human H5N1 infections have been seen in Thailand , Vietnam , and Cambodia during outbreaks in the poultry population. Top
BACTERIA
One of the two prokaryotic (meaning that the cell has no nuclear membrane and hence no separate nucleus) domains of living things. Top
BIOETHICS
The study of the ethical and moral implications of new biological discoveries, biomedical advances, and their applications as in the fields of genetic engineering and drug research. It considers all living organisms and the environment, from the level of the individual to the biosphere. Top
BIOLOGICAL RESOURCE CENTRE (BRC)
Service providers and repositories of the living cells, genomes of organisms, and information relating to heredity and the functions of biological systems. BRCs contain collections of culturable organisms, cells and tissues, as well as databases containing molecular, physiological and structural information relevant to these collections and related bioinformatics. Click here for more information on the OECD's work on the BRC. Top
BIOLOGICAL WARFARE
The wartime use of biological weapons. Top
BIOLOGICAL WEAPON
The weaponisation of pathogens, parts of them, or their toxins. This may involve modifying the environmental viability of the organism, its dispersal characteristics, its infectivity etc. Top
BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (BWC)
The Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction (referred to as the Biological Weapons Convention, BWC) was the first multilateral disarmament treaty banning the production and use of an entire category of weapons. It was the result of prolonged efforts by the international community to establish a new instrument that would supplement the 1925 Geneva Protocol. Opened for signature on April 10, 1972, it entered into force March 26, 1975 when 22 governments had finalized their instruments of ratification. It commits the 153 states that are party to it to prohibit national development, production, and stockpiling of biological and toxin weapons and to act to ensure that citizens of those countries likewise do not engage in these activities. However, the absence of any formal verification regime to monitor compliance has limited the effectiveness of the Convention. A protracted process of negotiation to add these missing elements began in the 1990s. Click here for the BWC website. Top
BIOSAFETY LEVELS I – IV
The combination of containment practices (i.e. - laboratory practices and techniques, safety equipment, and facility design) required for a certain type of biological research. There are four levels of biosafety, where biosafety level I is the least stringent and biosafety level IV the most stringent. Top
BIOSAFETY
The safe handling practices, procedures and proper use of containment facilities to prevent accidental harm caused by living organisms either directly or indirectly to individuals within laboratories or to the environment. Top
BIOSECURITY
Measures to protect against the malicious use of pathogens, parts of them, or their toxins in direct or indirect acts against humans, livestock or crops. Top
BIOTECHNOLOGY
The application of science and technology to living organisms as well as parts, products and models thereof, to alter living or non-living materials for the production of knowledge, goods and services. Top
BIOTERRORISM
The malicious use by terrorists of pathogens, parts of them, or their toxins in direct or indirect acts against humans, livestock or crops. Top
CLINICAL TRIALS
A rigorously controlled scientific test to answer specific question about the effectiveness and safety of a therapeutic agent (such as a drug or vaccine) using consenting human subjects. Clinical trials are normally performed before the agent is made available for general clinical use and after achieving promising results from laboratory and animal studies. Top
CODE OF CONDUCT / CODE OF ETHICS / CODE OF PRACTICE
Non-legislated guidelines which one or more organisations voluntarily agree to abide by, and which sets out the standard of conduct or behavior with respect to a particular activity. Top
COMMUNICABLE DISEASE
A disease that is transmitted from person to person through direct contact with an infected individual, the infected individual’s discharge, or indirectly through a vector. Many of these diseases can be prevented through the use of protective measures, such as increased sanitation or a high level of vaccine coverage of vulnerable populations. Top
CONTAINMENT
The safe methods for managing infectious materials in a laboratory where they are being handled or maintained. The purpose is to eliminate the risk of adverse exposure to harmful agents by laboratory personnel or the outside environment. There are three elements to containment: laboratory practice and technique, safety equipment, and facility design. Top
CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (CBD)
One of the key agreements adopted at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, where many world leaders agreed upon a comprehensive strategy for sustainable development. The Convention established three main goals: the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits from the use of genetic resources. Click here to go to the CDB website. Top
DUAL-USE
Initially used to refer to the aspects of certain material, information, and technology that are useful in both military and civilian spheres. It is increasingly being used to refer not only to military and civilian purposes, but also to criminal and terrorist activities. Top
EPIDEMIC
A fast spreading disease that affects many individuals in a population. Epidemics may be restricted to one locale, one region, or even the entire globe (pandemic). An epidemic, however, is not a characterization of how many members or what proportion of the population is infected but is defined by how fast it is growing. When each infected individual is infecting more than one other individual, so that the number of infected individuals is growing exponentially, the disease is in an epidemic state. Top
GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS (GMO)
GMOs are organisms wherein the genetic material (ADN) has been artificially altered, usually by replacing some of the host organism’s genes with those of another related or unrelated species. GMOs are often irreproducible in nature. For example, plants can be crossbred with insecticides in order to be more resistant to insect damage. Top
GENETICS
The scientific study of the statistical patterns of the inheritance and prevalence of genes in populations showing how and why particular qualities or traits are transmitted from parents to offspring. Top
GUIDELINES
A statement or other indication of policy or procedure by which to determine a course of action. Guidelines may be developed by government agencies at any level, institutions, professional societies, governing boards, or by the convening of expert panels. Though not necessarily mandatory, the text is generally a comprehensive guide to problems and approaches in any field of activity. Top
INFLUENZA
Known commonly as “the flu”, influenza is an acute contagious viral infection characterized by inflammation of the respiratory tract. It rapidly spreads around the world in seasonal epidemics. Influenza can mutate quickly and major genetic changes in the virus have caused three influenza pandemics in the 20th century, killing many millions of people. Asian flu (H2N2) and Avian Flu (H5N1) are types of influenzas. There are three types of influenzas:
- Influenza A viruses infect mammals and birds
- Influenza B viruses infect only humans
- Influenza C viruses infect only humans
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PANDEMIC
The outbreak of an infectious disease over a large geographical region and affecting a large percentage of the human and/or animal population. Top
PATHOGEN
Living organisms which cause disease to humans, plants or animals. Top
PATHOGEN SECURITY
See biosecurity. Top
PRINCIPLES
An elementary proposition, fundamental truth, law or doctrine from which others are derived or on which others are founded. A settled rule of action or a governing law of conduct.Top
RECOMBINANT DNA
Genetically engineered DNA prepared by transplanting or splicing genetic material from one species into the genome of a host organism of a different species. Such DNA becomes part of the host's genetic makeup and is replicated. Top
REGULATORY OVERSIGHT
The management or supervision of a group by an outside body in order to control or direct according to rule, principle, or law. Top
RETROVIRUS
Any of a group of viruses that, when not infecting a cell, stores its genetic information on a single-stranded RNA molecule instead of the more usual double-stranded DNA. After a retrovirus penetrates a cell, it transforms an RNA strand to a DNA strand using a special enzyme called reverse transcriptase. This DNA then becomes part of the cell's genetic material. HIV, the virus which causes AIDS, is a type of retrovirus. Top
SELECT AGENT
All of the viruses, bacteria, fungi, and toxins that, according to the US Center for Disease Control (CDC), the US Department of Health and Human Services, and the US Department of Agriculture, have the potential to cause substantial harm to humans, animals, or plants. Originally a list of 31 infectious agents and 12 biological toxins with additional provisions for recombinant organisms and drug resistant organisms and exemptions for research quantities and vaccine strains of organisms, the list is updated as necessary. The most current list can be obtained from the CDC’s website in PDF format here . Top
TOXICITY
A measure of the degree to which something is toxic or poisonous, or a substances potential to exert a harmful effect on humans, animals, or plants and a description of the effect and the conditions or concentration under which the effect takes place. Top
TOXIN
A complex and poisonous organic substance, especially a protein, that is produced by living cells or organisms and is capable of causing disease when introduced into the body tissues but is often also capable of inducing neutralizing antibodies or antitoxins. Top
TREATY
A treaty is a binding agreement under international law concluded by two or more sovereign nations. Treaties can be called by many names: treaties, international agreements, protocols, covenants, conventions, exchanges of letters, exchanges of notes, etc.; however all of these are equally treaties. Top
UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTION 1540
United Nations resolution 1540 (2004) was adopted by the Security Council in April 2004, calling on all states to develop and implement effective laws that establish domestic controls to prevent the proliferation of nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons and their means of delivery, including by establishing appropriate controls over related materials. Top
VACCINE
A preparation of a weakened or killed pathogen, such as a bacterium or virus, or of a portion of the pathogen's structure that upon administration stimulates antibody production or cellular immunity against the pathogen but is incapable of causing severe infection. Top
VIRULENCE
The relative degree or ability of a microorganism to cause disease or damage its host. Top
VIRUS
Any of various simple submicroscopic parasites of humans, animals, plants, and bacteria that are often pathogenic. Viruses consist essentially of a core piece of nucleic acid surrounded by a protein coat. Unable to replicate without a host cell, viruses are typically not considered living organisms. Top
ZOONOTIC AGENT
A pathogen that is, under normal conditions, communicable from animals to humans. Top
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