In signature Errol Morris style, the filmmaker interviews some quirky US scientists about the US's reluctance to destroy stockholds of the smallpox virus, which, if it were to fall into the wrong hands; namely terrorists'; could prove disastrous.
The US Department of Defence has substantially increased its investment in synthetic biology, which will enable defence labs to modify bacteria and diseases to make new genetic codes that do not exist in nature.
Whilst this kind of biology could be used to defend against attacks using biological agents, mishandling or misuse of these viruses could also create severe problems in terms of accidental leakages.