基因武器已成為現(xiàn)實(shí)

直言了，2012-03-13 | 2012-03-14 22:05:20。
http://zhiyanle.blog.hexun.com/73735052_d.html 。


兩會(huì)上，有代表闡明了轉(zhuǎn)基因技術(shù)的危害風(fēng)險(xiǎn)、說明了它可用來做殺傷武器，由此而提出了中國需要建立“生物國防”體系的建議，其中包括對(duì)轉(zhuǎn)基因技術(shù)產(chǎn)品的嚴(yán)格檢驗(yàn)、監(jiān)控乃至限制或禁止等措施的建議。該建議妨礙了轉(zhuǎn)基因既得利益集團(tuán)的商業(yè)利益，于是，他們雇用的槍手文人接連出來，說轉(zhuǎn)基因技術(shù)可制造殺傷武器的說法是“危言聳聽”云云。其實(shí)，在美國，用轉(zhuǎn)基因技術(shù)搞基因武器不但已經(jīng)是現(xiàn)實(shí)了，而且已經(jīng)開始公開征集相關(guān)國防用品設(shè)計(jì)了。故事很多，下面就說最近發(fā)生的一個(gè)故事。

今年年初開始，美國國防系統(tǒng)的“達(dá)爾帕”（DARPA）部門公開招標(biāo)“蛋白折疊”軟件設(shè)計(jì)，項(xiàng)目名稱是“FOLD-IT”（直譯：折疊它）。所謂“蛋白折疊”，就是根據(jù)某基因結(jié)構(gòu)而形成某蛋白的過程；該蛋白發(fā)揮功能可使某生命體幸存發(fā)育或殘疾死亡。要實(shí)現(xiàn)某種預(yù)期的蛋白折疊，就先要實(shí)現(xiàn)某種基因結(jié)構(gòu)。到目前，基因結(jié)構(gòu)設(shè)計(jì)包括DNA-水平和RNA-水平的兩種設(shè)計(jì)：前者是“中心法則”的設(shè)計(jì)，后者是推翻“中心法則”的設(shè)計(jì)（更厲害）。不言而喻，搞基因結(jié)構(gòu)設(shè)計(jì)就是搞轉(zhuǎn)基因技術(shù)。

該部門公告說，有了“蛋白折疊”的最佳設(shè)計(jì)軟件，我們的戰(zhàn)斗員就可以更快地和更低成本地得到所需藥品了。該公告沒說戰(zhàn)斗員需要的“藥品”是做什么用的。其實(shí)，不必多說：戰(zhàn)場藥品的目標(biāo)無非就是兩個(gè)：救護(hù)自己，消滅敵人。就是說，“蛋白折疊”技術(shù)即轉(zhuǎn)基因技術(shù)是完全可以用來制造進(jìn)攻或防御的殺傷武器的技術(shù)。

該項(xiàng)目招標(biāo)方式是“游戲”設(shè)計(jì)，即專業(yè)者和非專業(yè)者都可以輕松上手使用，且特別是方便非專業(yè)人員使用。科技產(chǎn)品以“游戲”方式出現(xiàn)，那做法很符合前世界著名貝爾實(shí)驗(yàn)室頭頭的話：什么是好的軟件應(yīng)用設(shè)計(jì)？我那七歲的兒子可立馬上手玩起來，那就是好設(shè)計(jì)。在美國社會(huì)，幾乎是眾所周知：美國軍隊(duì)的許多戰(zhàn)場科技用品的應(yīng)用訓(xùn)練，差不多都是從“游戲”開始甚至自始至終就是用“游戲”方式的，譬如連空軍飛行員的不少戰(zhàn)斗訓(xùn)練就是如此。很清楚，那“蛋白折疊”設(shè)計(jì)用“游戲”方式，就是為成千上萬的非生物學(xué)專業(yè)的軍隊(duì)?wèi)?zhàn)斗員能立馬上手和輕松使用而考慮的。

在美國生活久了，且稍微關(guān)注一下官方科研項(xiàng)目運(yùn)作，就不難看到美國國防科技的做法：能公開召集某科技產(chǎn)品設(shè)計(jì)，說明美國國防系統(tǒng)在該領(lǐng)域已經(jīng)有了充分的戰(zhàn)場認(rèn)識(shí)，且有了足夠的進(jìn)攻能力和防御能力，由此，即便現(xiàn)實(shí)或潛在的敵對(duì)勢力也搞出同樣科技（甚至偷走相關(guān)科技），美國也有辦法對(duì)付、能足夠有效地保護(hù)自己的國家和人民的安全。如此，美國國防系統(tǒng)公開招標(biāo)征集“蛋白折疊”設(shè)計(jì)，那說明美國國防系統(tǒng)對(duì)“基因武器”甚至“基因戰(zhàn)爭”的大規(guī)模殺傷破壞力已經(jīng)有了充分的戰(zhàn)場認(rèn)識(shí)，且在相關(guān)領(lǐng)域有了足夠的進(jìn)攻和防御的能力。就是說，所謂“基因武器”早已成為現(xiàn)實(shí)、早已不再是議論中的事了。

當(dāng)然，應(yīng)該知道，當(dāng)前，美國正在落實(shí)白宮簽署的、要求全國各部門和地方各州限期落實(shí)生物國防之“布薩特”計(jì)劃的命令，而“蛋白折疊”招標(biāo)僅是落實(shí)該命令的一小部分。

注：美國國防系統(tǒng)的“達(dá)爾帕”（DARPA）部門發(fā)表的自我簡介：The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) was established in 1958 to prevent strategic surprise from negatively impacting U.S. national security and create strategic surprise for U.S. adversaries by maintaining the technological superiority of the U.S. military. 。（該部門可否直譯為“國防高級(jí)研究項(xiàng)目局”？）。


附圖：轉(zhuǎn)基因技術(shù)可以做的事情：



附：美國國防系統(tǒng)公開招標(biāo)征集“蛋白折疊”設(shè)計(jì)的新聞公告之原文： 

Protein Folding Game Functionally Remodels Enzyme。
DARPA, January 25, 2012。
URL：http://www.darpa.mil/NewsEvents/Releases/2012/01/25.aspx 。

Proteins are essential in almost all biological processes. The three-dimensional shape of the protein, which is essential to its function, is determined by protein folding. Foldit, which was initially funded by DARPA, is a game with an online community of 240,000 players that allows non-experts and experts alike to collaborate and solve protein folding puzzles. Solutions to these puzzles are sent to biochemistry researchers to analyze for advances in protein design prediction.

Recent advances from Foldit include identifying the structure of a retroviral protease that causes AIDS in rhesus monkeys and protein inhibitors that block H1N1, a virus responsible for the 1918 pandemic and the 2009 flu pandemic. Through Foldit, the crowd has produced solutions that have evaded scientists for years.

DARPA’s investment in Foldit continues to lead to advances as demonstrated by the latest paper published in Nature. The paper describes how players were able to functionally remodel the structure of a catalyst enzyme for Diels-Alder reactions, an important reaction in organic synthesis. The remodeling of the enzyme structure increases catalytic properties by 18 times, demonstrating that Foldit can be used not only for protein design, but also for protein function prediction, a more complex challenge that cannot be solved by automation.

“Modeling an enzyme with significantly enhanced catalytic properties could lead to advances in organic synthesis,” explained Jay Schnitzer, director, Defense Sciences Office. “If enzymes used in pharmaceutical production can be remodeled with enhanced catalytic properties, production times should be shortened. For the DoD, this means getting medicines to the warfighter faster and at lower cost.”

“One of the benefits to opening the aperture for non-expert participation is that they don’t come into a situation with preconceived notions of what has to happen or how, so they have an ability to see beyond the problem and identify potential new solutions from a different perspective,” said DARPA Deputy Director Kaigham Gabriel.

DARPA continues to explore other opportunities where gamification can lead to advancements. The Crowd Sourced Formal Verification (CSFV) program seeks to design games that will allow novices and experts alike to formally verify code in DoD software. By allowing a diverse pool of participants, a game for formal verification would save time and money, allowing more effective software to be deployed with the U.S. warfighter. Those interested in developing games for formal verification have until March 20, 2012 to respond to the CSFV solicitation.

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