Question: Is it possible to build a virus from plans! To create a virus that does not already exist?

Artem Evdokimov answered on 13 Jun 2012:

Generally speaking, yes. Of all forms of life (as much as viruses can be considered alive, which is debatable) viruses and viroids are by far the simplest. So I have no doubt that a completely new virus could be created – and (this is a bit scary) the resources necessary for this are available now to any reasonably equipped molecular biology laboratory. Having said this – the ability to make new viruses does NOT equal the ability to understand what effects would they have on the host. Which is why researchers are very careful with this sort of work and typically take care to ensure that experimental viruses (that are very important tools for research and medicine) are not easily transmittable (the good news is that many viruses do not survive exposure to air or drying out).