Abstract
The anthrax attacks that followed September 11, 2001 and the fear that bioterrorism could inflict mass casualties have fostered a multifaceted approach for biodefense. New laws and regulations have been instituted to limit access to dangerous pathogens in an attempt to enhance biosafety and biosecurity. New research is being instituted to enhance preparedness and to deter future acts of bioterrorism. Greater attention is being paid to information as well as pathogens and toxins, particularly with regard to the potential misuse of biotechnology to create more deadly pathogens or to use recombinant DNA technology to alter human genomes. Government and the scientific community are struggling with how to achieve a balance between the openness of scientific communication, which is essential for the advancement of the biomedical research effort aimed at biodefense, and secrecy for protecting national security information. Classification remains the principal means of protecting information, but additional means are being considered to protect sensitive homeland security information that is not classified.