BMA warns of arrival of genetic weapons.

The BMA has warned that the possibility of developing weapons genetically targeted at different ethnic groups could be just five years away.

Dr Vivienne Nathanson, head of health policy research at the BMA, said, "It is important to emphasise that we are talking about technology and information that is becoming available now and will be available in the next few years. We have a window of opportunity before such weapons can realistically be manufactured."

The BMA is particularly concerned about the use of information from the Human Genome Project and the Human Diversity Project. These research projects, set to be completed in 2003, aim to unlock the key to …