Securing the U.S. nucleic acid synthesis industry: a case for safe-harbor information sharing

Area of Science:

• Biosecurity
• Synthetic Biology
• Information Science

Background:

• The U.S. has issued guidelines for synthetic nucleic acid providers to screen order sequences and customers.
• These guidelines lack clear, enforceable requirements, leading to inconsistent implementation and potential vulnerabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a safe harbor information sharing network as a biosecurity measure.
• To address the limitations of current screening guidelines for synthetic nucleic acid providers.

Main Methods:

• Proposing a network for cross-provider analysis of order sequences and customer metadata.
• Leveraging shared data to improve detection of suspicious activities.

Main Results:

• Enhanced detection of suspicious activities through shared data analysis.
• Generation of empirical evidence to refine screening priorities and definitions of concern.
• Improved foundation for policy and guideline development.

Conclusions:

• A safe harbor information sharing network can act as a biosecurity force multiplier.
• Such a system offers a more robust and adaptable approach to managing risks in the synthetic nucleic acid industry.