# Is is possible to make DNA targetting viral weapons?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-is-possible-to-make-dna-targetting-viral-weapons/538439>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 5, 2010, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-is-possible-to-make-dna-targetting-viral-weapons/538439 "2010-05-05T19:32:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![EdwardLost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbe5ce/32.png) [@EdwardLost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EdwardLost)\
**Post date:** [May 8, 2010, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-is-possible-to-make-dna-targetting-viral-weapons/538439/21 "2010-05-08T00:31:57Z")

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> [@wheresmymind](#):
>
> I’d put this scheme in the same league as a space elevator - sure it’s possible, but it’s going to be difficult and require some pretty big technological leaps.

Well, targeting and individual is probably not feasible for the reasons stated above: the large number of genes required to specify a single person and the mutation problem.

But constructing a target virus with a less ambitious specificity (say, against everyone with AB-negative blood type) is a lot easier to imagine that a space elevator. A space elevator requires an undiscovered superstrong material and a ginormous construction effort. For a designer virus the two main hurtles are assembling the virus and determining what proteins should make up the shell and what genes should go inside. The latter would probably be done by first using a cell simulator program to get a rough design and then using series of mutation/selection steps in the lab to increase the specificity and potency. We don’t have anything like a realistic cell simulator, but the simulation of protein and DNA interactions is an active area of research and I don’t doubt that there will be something good enough for this task within a few decades.

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**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\
**Post date:** [May 8, 2010, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-is-possible-to-make-dna-targetting-viral-weapons/538439/22 "2010-05-08T09:52:51Z")

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> [@PSXer](#):
>
> I know this is possible, because it happens in Metal Gear Solid

(nice username/post combo)

But Naomi’s not working with viruses - I know everyone keeps refering to FoxDIE as a virus or disease, but it’s really based on nanomachines (like everything else in MG canon…).  
Those are presumably much easier to deal with than genetic and biologic engineering. For one thing, they’re not going to spontaneously mutate or degenerate outside the lab.

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**Author:** ![\_Undecided\_Adrian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/eada6e/32.png) [@\_Undecided\_Adrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_Undecided_Adrian)\
**Post date:** [May 8, 2010, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-is-possible-to-make-dna-targetting-viral-weapons/538439/23 "2010-05-08T10:20:04Z")

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I know this is possible, because it happened in Matt Ruff’s _Sewer, Gas & Electric: The Public Works Trilogy_.  
And yes, it’s based on race there, and yes, you should read it if you like the oeuvre of Mssrs. Pratchett and Adams at all.

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