Word: meselson
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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Matthew S. Meselson, Professor of Biology, said last night that present U.S. policy towards biological and chemical warfare is one which can only stimulate other countries to develop their own chemical and biological weapons...
...Meselson's argument was that small-scale use of B. and C. weapons (the lines between the two are blurred) quite conceivably could escalate into large-scale disastrous biological warfare...
...Biological weapons have not yet been perfected. Viruses contain small molecules which can be unpredictably changed by enzymes in the human body. This makes it impossible to measure a weapon's degree of toxicity. We must assume that all are potentially lethal," said Matthew S. Meselson, professor of Biology and a member of the group, at a press conference here yesterday...
...Meselson did not feel that past discussion of chemical warfare and its consequences showed sufficient thought or maturity on the part of the military. "We are like children playing with matches, and tend to forget that the U.S. is the military pacesetter of the world. Should we decide to pioneer the use of germ, viral, and gas weapons, we might lead to their use in smaller countries...
...five-man panel made up of members of the group also discussed the long-range implications of U.S. development of chemical warfare. "Biological weapons are small and cheap; their use and perfection will lower the barrier to irresponsible war," Meselson continued...