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<jats:p>After a decade of intensive policy discussions on the topic of dual-use research of concern (DURC) in the life sciences, there has been a lack of consensus on how to practically define DURC; whether it is feasible to identify and regulate DURC experiments; how to address the risks associated with DURC; and how to balance this risk with the necessity of fostering life sciences research for public health and biodefense. The publication of two avian influenza studies has brought the DURC issue back into sharp focus and has resulted in a new set of federal guidelines. However, the new DURC policy raises questions regarding whether this is the best policy solution to a complicated biosecurity concern.</jats:p>

<jats:p>The problem of securing biological research data is a difficult and complicated one. Our ability to secure data on computers is not robust enough to ensure the security of existing data sets. Lessons from cryptography illustrate that neither secrecy measures, such as deleting technical details, nor national solutions, such as export controls, will work.</jats:p>

<jats:p>Experience with influenza has shown that predictions of virus phenotype or fitness from nucleotide sequence are imperfect and that predicting the timing and course of evolution is extremely difficult. Such uncertainty means that the risk of experiments with mammalian-transmissible, possibly highly virulent influenza viruses remains high even if some aspects of their laboratory biology are reassuring; it also implies limitations on the ability of laboratory observations to guide interpretation of surveillance of strains in the field. Thus, we propose that future experiments with virulent pathogens whose accidental or deliberate release could lead to extensive spread in human populations should be limited by explicit risk-benefit considerations.</jats:p>

<jats:p>Science and society have been struggling to find a way to protect humankind from recurring epidemics and pandemics of influenza. Here, we review the options available in the short term and also briefly address the solutions that research may make available in the long term.</jats:p>

<jats:p>Avian flu can acquire the capacity for airborne transmission between mammals without recombination in an intermediate host.</jats:p>

<jats:p>Some natural influenza viruses need only three amino acid substitutions to acquire airborne transmissibility between mammals.</jats:p>

<jats:title>From Wnt Signals to Telomerase Activity</jats:title> <jats:p> Telomerase activity is associated with stem cell renewal and cancers, whereas a decrease in telomerase activity is seen during cell differentiation and senescence. Wnt/β-catenin signaling is also a critical regulator of stem cells, and deregulation of the pathway is associated with cancer. Now, <jats:bold> Hoffmeyer <jats:italic>et al.</jats:italic> </jats:bold> (p. <jats:related-article xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" ext-link-type="doi" page="1549" related-article-type="in-this-issue" vol="336" xlink:href="10.1126/science.1218370">1549</jats:related-article> ; see the Perspective by <jats:bold> <jats:related-article xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" ext-link-type="doi" issue="6088" page="1519" related-article-type="in-this-issue" vol="336" xlink:href="10.1126/science.1223785">Greider</jats:related-article> </jats:bold> ) have found a link between these two pathways. In embryonic stem cells, β-catenin was able to regulate telomerase expression and activity directly. Similar observations were obtained in adult stem cells, a model of intestinal tumors, and human cancer cells. </jats:p>