Opinion: Congressional scare tactics won’t protect Americans’ DNA

Protecting Americans’ DNA from foreign exploitation — indeed, from any exploitation — is a laudable goal. But Congress’ latest proposal restricting biotechs from working with certain firms and suppliers is an ineffective result of xenophobia and political fearmongering.

In recent months, Congress began pushing the BIOSECURE Act, a bill that would prohibit government agencies and labs doing federally funded research from working with certain China-affiliated biotech companies. It would also...