Deck 6: Biosecurity

Question 1

The authority to regulate "select agents" was delegated to what agency, which then required any laboratory transferring "select agents" to register and report any transfer?

A) National Institutes of Health
B) Department of Transportation
C) U.S. Food and Drug Administration
D) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Answer 1

D

Question 2

In addition to recommendations on criteria for identifying dual use research of concern (DURC), which of the following provides national guidelines for oversight of dual use research and advises on educational programs, codes of conduct for scientists, guidelines for dissemination of research methodologies and results, and strategies for international dialogues on dual use research?

A) National Institutes of Health
B) World Health Organization
C) The American Society of Microbiology
D) National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity

Answer 2

D

Question 3

What is biosecurity?

Answer 3

It is a process to reduce or eliminate the ability of a biological agent to adversely affect human, animal, or plant health.

Question 4

What is biosafety?

Question 5

How many biosafety levels are there? What is used for the most dangerous agents?

Question 6

What are the "experiments of concern" that the Fink Report identified? Please name one or more.

Question 7

What were the two articles that were submitted to NSABB for review about?

Question 8

What are select agents?

Question 9

What is synthetic biology? Why might it pose a risk?

Question 10

What is the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program?

Question 11

Which of the following refers to the process of reducing or eliminating the ability of a biological agent to adversely affect human, animal, or plant health, as well as the economy or the environment?

A) Biosafety
B) Biosecurity
C) Biodiversity
D) Biorisk

Question 12

Which of the following is the name given to the chance that any type of adverse event leading to potential harm will occur-be it an accidental infection within the laboratory or the loss, theft, unauthorized access, or intentional release of an agent?

A) Biorisk
B) Biosafety
C) Biosecurity
D) Bioterrorism

Question 13

The results of the mousepox study raised scientific concerns that it demonstrated how to increase the lethality of what biological agent?

A) Anthrax
B) Botulism
C) Smallpox
D) Ricin

Question 14

Biologists and engineers, along with computer modelers and other experts, combining expertise to create biological components and systems that do not naturally exist is characteristic of what field of biology?

A) Bioengineering
B) Epigenetics
C) Synthetic biology
D) Computational biology

Question 15

Which of the following refers to any modification of a biological agent that confers new or enhanced activity?

A) Dual use
B) Meaningful use
C) Gain of function
D) Biological enhancement

Question 16

Biosecurity, often mistakenly used interchangeably with biosafety, is the process used to prevent people and the environment from being exposed to hazardous biological agents.

Question 17

Within the life sciences, "dual use" refers to research, agents, technologies, equipment, or information that can be used both for legitimate scientific purposes and for malevolent use to threaten public health or security.

Question 18

The process of scientific publication, through which new findings are reviewed for quality and then presented to the rest of the scientific community and the public, is a vital element in our national life.

Question 19

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is in charge of regulating human pathogens, while the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has the lead for animal and plant pathogens.

Question 20

The U.S. government sees synthetic biology as an important scientific development, with potential applications for the advancement of health and technology.

Question 21

Which of the following refers to the appropriate handling of infectious agents through the application of proper techniques, equipment, and personal behavior?

A) Biosafety
B) Biosecurity
C) Biodiversity
D) Biorisk

Question 22

The purpose of which of the following was to develop a system to help reduce the threat of misuse of the life sciences, while protecting scientific research and communication to the maximum extent possible?

A) The Fink Report
B) The Belmont Report
C) USG Policy for Oversight of Life Sciences Dual Use Research Concern
D) The Federal Select Agents Program

Question 23

It is possible to use what process to create novel biological agents with unique properties?

A) Bioengineering
B) Epigenetics
C) Synthetic biology
D) Computational biology

Question 24

The first article submitted to the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) was the complete genetic sequencing of what virus from 1918?

A) Polio
B) Smallpox
C) Influenza
D) Infectious mononucleosis

Question 25

A controversial article, which provides a detailed description of how to contaminate the milk supply with what toxin, was published by the Proceedings of the National Academies of Science (PNAS) and viewed by critics as a road map for bioterrorism?

A) Anthrax
B) Botulism
C) Smallpox
D) Salmonella

Question 26

Biosecurity encompasses the management of biological and environmental risks, whether the risks come from the agents themselves, infectious diseases, invasive species, or biological weapons.

Question 27

The simple phrase used to distinguish biosafety from biosecurity is, "Biosecurity is about protecting people from bad bugs; biosafety is about protecting bugs from bad people."

Question 28

Dual use research of concern (DURC) is legitimate life sciences research that is intended for benefit, but which might yield information and technology that can easily be misapplied for malevolent purposes.

Question 29

Some gain-of-function studies may entail biosafety and biosecurity risks that require unique risk assessment and mitigation measures.

Question 30

The overall body of laws and regulations on select agents makes it easier for scientists to acquire and work with certain agents.