Genomes: The Era of Purposeful Manipulation Begins

Abstract: The purposeful manipulation of genomes is now possible. Such manipulation has great promise and broad strategic implications; it is creating useful molecules of various sorts and, over time, it could eliminate genetic disease. Like many emerging technologies, genome manipulation could grow into an important economic sector, contributing to a replicating cycle of innovation and enabling the United States to favorably shape its strategic future at home and abroad. Advances in these technologies are fueled by a global commercial and academic community. The United States should ensure that it fully remains a member of that community, but also that key capabilities— such as large, well-curated databases and biofoundries—are created and sustained domestically. The United States needs to rationalize its policy on heritable human genome editing, allowing legitimate types of edits but contributing to international norms against illegitimate ones. A robust biotechnology sector at home would yield many benefits—economic, technological, medical— and provide the critical reservoir of expertise within which national security interests could be secured. The Department of Defense needs to make structural reforms in its approach to emerging technologies, particularly by creating career paths for uniformed practitioners. Otherwise, it will continue failing in its effort to incorporate emerging technologies into its operational concepts, budgets, and programs—leading to diminished capabilities in the United States, particularly as compared to China. In time, falling behind on these key areas of science could lead to many problems, including failures in deterrence and, ultimately, in war.

Bio: Carol Kuntz teaches on the policy implications of artificial intelligence at George Washington and Georgetown Universities and conducts research as an adjunct fellow in the Strategic Technologies Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Dr. Kuntz served in the United States Department of Defense (DOD) for more than 30 years. Her work particularly focused on identifying changes in the strategic and technological environment and crafting new policies and programs given those changes.

In the several years before Covid-19 emerged, she sought to embed cutting-edge biotechnologies into the DOD's biodefense program to strengthen its ability to rapidly configure vaccines to protect against novel pathogens. For the five years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States, Dr. Kuntz served as the homeland security advisor to the vice president of the United States. At the end of the Cold War in 1989, she worked with top DOD officials to craft a new defense strategy to replace the post-World War II strategy of containment. Dr. Kuntz received her PhD in political science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She received her MPA from Princeton University and her BA from Cornell University. Dr. Kuntz received numerous awards over the course of her government career, including twice receiving the Secretary of Defense Medal for Meritorious Civilian Service. Her most recent publication is a CSIS report on 'Genomes: The Era of Purposeful Manipulation Begins.'