View in EDS

Gain-of-function virology as dual-use research of concern: Variations of securitization in the United States.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Gain-of-function virology as dual-use research of concern: Variations of securitization in the United States.
Authors: Kelle, Alexander, Dando, Malcolm
Source: Politics & the Life Sciences. Spring2026, Vol. 45 Issue 1, p141-158. 18p.
Subjects: COVID-19, United States. Congress, Biotechnology, Risk management in business, Medical virology, Biosecurity, Risk assessment
Geographic Terms: United States
Abstract: Ever since the advent of recombinant DNA technology in the early 1970s concerns have been expressed about the misuse potential of this and subsequent biotechnology breakthroughs. This article focuses on the securitization of gain-of-function (GOF) virology research in the United States, utilizing an updated theoretical framework that distinguishes between "riskification" and "threatification." The paper examines three distinct cases, two historical, one ongoing. It argues that early attempts to govern GOF research primarily employed a riskification approach, characterized by self-governance by the scientific community. However, the controversy over the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a shift toward threatification, bringing in high-level political actors like the U.S. President and Congress, resulting in the adoption of more restrictive, legally-enforced oversight measures. The article concludes that the application of this theoretical distinction provides a better understanding of how the governance of dual-use research has evolved in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Politics & the Life Sciences is the property of Cambridge University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: pbh
DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
An: 192815976
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Gain-of-function virology as dual-use research of concern: Variations of securitization in the United States.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kelle%2C+Alexander%22">Kelle, Alexander</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Dando%2C+Malcolm%22">Dando, Malcolm</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Politics+%26+the+Life+Sciences%22">Politics & the Life Sciences</searchLink>. Spring2026, Vol. 45 Issue 1, p141-158. 18p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22COVID-19%22">COVID-19</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+States%2E+Congress%22">United States. Congress</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Biotechnology%22">Biotechnology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Risk+management+in+business%22">Risk management in business</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Medical+virology%22">Medical virology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Biosecurity%22">Biosecurity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Risk+assessment%22">Risk assessment</searchLink>
– Name: SubjectGeographic
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+States%22">United States</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Ever since the advent of recombinant DNA technology in the early 1970s concerns have been expressed about the misuse potential of this and subsequent biotechnology breakthroughs. This article focuses on the securitization of gain-of-function (GOF) virology research in the United States, utilizing an updated theoretical framework that distinguishes between "riskification" and "threatification." The paper examines three distinct cases, two historical, one ongoing. It argues that early attempts to govern GOF research primarily employed a riskification approach, characterized by self-governance by the scientific community. However, the controversy over the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a shift toward threatification, bringing in high-level political actors like the U.S. President and Congress, resulting in the adoption of more restrictive, legally-enforced oversight measures. The article concludes that the application of this theoretical distinction provides a better understanding of how the governance of dual-use research has evolved in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Politics & the Life Sciences is the property of Cambridge University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=192815976
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1017/pls.2025.10018
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 18
        StartPage: 141
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: COVID-19
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: United States. Congress
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Biotechnology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Risk management in business
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Medical virology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Biosecurity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Risk assessment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: United States
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Gain-of-function virology as dual-use research of concern: Variations of securitization in the United States.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Kelle, Alexander
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Dando, Malcolm
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 03
              Text: Spring2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 07309384
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 45
            – Type: issue
              Value: 1
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Politics & the Life Sciences
              Type: main
ResultId 1