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Digital Biome

Societal and Policy Considerations in the Premonition System for Monitoring Biological Threats

Abstract

The Premonition Biological Weather Station is based on unique sensor devices that can identify a wide range of insects and other arthropods and selectively trapping them for analysis. The analysis screens all molecular material of a mosquito sample including pathogens within a mosquito, host DNA of a bloodmeal if the mosquito recently fed, the pathogens within the host blood of the mosquito bloodmeal, and the overall microbiome of a mosquito. The DNA and/or RNA associated with the pathogens is analyzed using a combination of research fields that include public health, computer science, and biology. The aim of this technology is to provide an early warning system for emerging disease threats and generate integrated sensor network data for catalyzing innovations in the fields of biology, ecology, and public health. This report provides an empirically grounded approach to societal and policy issues of this technology in the following impact areas: economic efficiency, environmental sustainability, equity, governance, privacy, safety, and security.

Year of Publication
2023
Number of Pages
11
Date Published
09/2023
Type
Technical Report
Institution
Institute for Software Integrated Systems, Vanderbilt University
City
Nashville