Restricting access to ingredients for terror

In their efforts to beef up security against terrorists, the Bush administration and Congress are considering new restrictions on the use and transportation of biological agents, including some, such as adenoviruses, that are used in gene therapy and other non-military biomedical research.

Legislation proposed by Attorney General John Ashcroft would criminalize the possession of "a biological agent or toxin of a type or in a quantity that, under the circumstances, is not reasonably justified by a prophylactic, protective or other peaceful purpose," according to a Justice Department summary of the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act Of 2001...