Mirror microbial life and the dual use dilemma

Life as we know it on Earth contains sugars and amino acids that are, for the most part, in only one of two chiral forms. However, it has been proposed that molecules with the opposite chirality, called mirror molecules, could have beneficial uses. This possibility has led to discussions of producing replicating unicellular organisms with the opposite chirality, or mirror life. These concepts in mirror biology present potential dual use concerns. In this manuscript, we apply a framework we previously developed for considering the benefits and risks of gain-of-function experiments with infectious agents. We conclude that while mirror molecules are worth pursuing, the potential risks of mirror organisms currently far outweigh the benefits.