Re: export controlled fermenters

[Frederick Burroughs <riburr@shentel.net>]

Anonymous wrote:

> http://www.acda.gov/factshee/wmd/bw/auslist.htm

> AUSTRALIA GROUP
> LIST OF BIOLOGICAL AGENTS FOR EXPORT
> CONTROL CORE LIST1

[...]

> Genetically Modified Micro-organisms
>
> G1. Genetically modified micro-organisms or genetic elements that contain
> nucleic acid sequences associated with pathogenicity and are derived from
> organisms in the core list.
>
> G2. Genetically modified micro-organisms or genetic elements that contain
> nucleic acid sequences coding for any of the toxins in the core list, or
> their subunits.
>
> Toxins as follow and subunits thereof:2
>
> T1. Botulinum toxins
> T2. Clostridium perfringens toxins
> T3. Conotoxin
> T4. Ricin
> T5. Saxitoxin
> T6. Shiga toxin
> T7. Staphylococcus aureaus toxins
> T8. Tetrodotoxin
> T9. Verotoxin
> T10. Microcystin (Cyanginosin)
> T11. Alflatoxins

[...]

Hmmm, mythical chimeras subject to export control? E. coli with a dinoflagellate
sting? Smegma that erupts into gas gangrene? Surely these nightmares are only
paranoid delusions of national security strategists who may have eaten British
beef too close to bedtime. A pox on their infections! And a swab of flesh eating
streptococcus on the lubri-smooth strip of all their razors, so they can't save
face.