ArticlemSphere2026
Mirror microbial life and the dual use dilemma.
Article in mSphere, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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2 authors.
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Abstract
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.
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