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The human genome map, the death of genetic determinism and beyond (Mae-Wan Ho)
The
rationale for the public funding of the Human Genome Project - a project
to uncover the exact molecular composition of the genes that make up Homo
sapiens - was that, apart from explaining many aspects of human behaviour
and development, it would revolutionise healthcare by making possible
exact predictive medicine, and unfailingly accurate diagnosis and perfect
treatment of diseases. However, when the results of this attempt to map
‘the book of life’ were finally announced in February this year, they
proved to be something of an anti-climax. Mae-Wan Ho explains why there
was little in these results to justify the extravagant claims made about
this costly project.
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Human gene therapy: A cure for all ills?
Public
opposition to genetically modified (GM) crops in the UK and Europe has
propelled the issue to the top of the political agenda. At the same time,
there is growing public interest in the potential costs and benefits of
applying the techniques of genetic modification to treating human illness
and disease. This briefing examines the case for gene therapy and considers
the safety, social and ethical concerns.
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Genetically engineered vaccines (Martin Jalleh)
In
recent years, genetically engineered vaccine strategies have been rushed
into common use within such fields as medicine, veterinary medicine and
fish farming. Some scientists contend that such vaccines are totally innocuous.
But a recent and major research report by Professor Terje Traavik reduces
the ‘safe technology’ to sheer naive optimism, and warns in conclusion
that ‘many live, genetically engineered vaccines are inherently unpredictable
(and) possibly dangerous.’ Martin Jalleh highlights the compelling findings
of the report - which make the arguments for genetically engineered vaccines
look frail and move Traavik to call on the scientific community to go
beyond the ‘Holy Grail’ of medicine.
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Eat up your vaccines(GRAIN)
Edible
vaccines are being touted by the agbiotech industry as an example of the
benefits genetic engineering can bring to the South. Claims that they
will be cheap, accessible and safe, and eliminate the need for the dreaded
needle, sound like a dream come true. But the vaccine in a banana is still
far from reality, and we will all likely be a lot better off without it anyway.
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Why clone at all?(Mae-Wan Ho)
Who
would clone a sheep or a cow, let alone a human being? No persuasive reason
exists save for genetic determinists who believe an organism is nothing
more than the sum total of its genetic make-up and that it is their right
to exploit cloned human embryos for spare body parts.
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The unnecessary evil of 'therapeutic' human cloning (Mae-Wan Ho & Joe Cummins)
The
United Kingdom House of Lords recently voted by an overwhelming majority
to allow the creation of human embryos to provide embryonic stem cells
that can be used for cell and tissue replacement. Britain stands out as
the only country in the European Union to approve this practice. But is
so-called ‘therapeutic’ human cloning really necessary?
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Xenotransplantation
(Mae-Wan Ho & Joe Cummins)
Despite
warnings from scientists of the risk of new viruses crossing from animal
organs to human subjects and thereby infecting the population at large,
xenotransplantation - the transplant of animal organs into human beings
- is a multi-billion-dollar venture. This audit exposes the shoddy science
that puts the world at risk from viral pandemics and concludes that xenotransplantation
should not be allowed in any form.
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Lab-created killer virus sparks biotech fears
(Martin Khor)
Recent
news that a deadly new virus was created during a genetic engineering
experiment has set off warning bells that the use of the technology should
be very carefully monitored and regulated. In the experiment that went
wrong, an engineered mousepox virus acquired the capacity to damage the
immune system and killed all the mice involved. The scientists involved
warned that it is ‘not too difficult’ to create similar viruses that are
deadly to human beings. Are we in danger of facing new diseases created
in poorly-regulated labs?
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Genetic engineering superviruses
(Mae-Wan Ho)
The
past 25 years of increasing commercial exploitation of genetic engineering
in both agriculture and medicine may have unleashed the potential for
creating viruses and bacteria more virulent than nature’s worst.
