• Question: Is it possible to create a super bug in a lab that could result in the extinction of human beings?

    Asked by Mohammad to ☣ Danna on 22 Jun 2016.
    • Photo: Danna Gifford

      Danna Gifford answered on 22 Jun 2016:


      Hi Mohammad,
      In theory, it could be possible to create a very deadly super bug that would be very lethal to people. However, I am not sure that it would be possible to cause one that would cause human extinction, for two reasons. One, the genes that the super bug would have that make it a killer would probably make it grow badly when it wasn’t in an infection (e.g. in the environment), so it might not spread very well. Two, different people have different abilities to fight of diseases, so it might not be possible to create a super bug that everyone would be susceptible to, as some people might have a natural immunity.

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