GM experiment vandalised

From: Brett Paatsch (paatschb@optusnet.com.au)
Date: Wed Jun 18 2003 - 23:13:02 MDT

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      Trespassers uproot John Innes pea plants.

    http://www.nature.com/nsu/030616/030616-13.html

    "The pea plants contained an extra gene, designed to
    highlight parts affected by drought.
     
    Intruders have destroyed genetically modified research
    plants growing at the John Innes Centre in Norwich, UK.

    The plants were part of a three-year contained experiment
    looking at the effects of drought on plant growth. They
    were not part of a trial of commercial crops.

    "This attack was intended solely to suppress the collection
    of scientific evidence which will help inform society as to
     the benefits, or otherwise, of GM technology," said Chris
     Lamb, director of the John Innes Centre.

    Trespassers broke into the site early on Saturday 14 June,
    slashed a large plastic tunnel and uprooted specimens
    growing inside. No one has admitted responsibility.

    The incident coincides with the UK's ongoing public
    discussion process on GM crops. The results will inform
    the government's decision on whether to allow them to be
    planted commercially. "
    -----------

    I've got to admit I'm developing a bit of a soft spot for the
    'land of Ludd'. First the most liberal legislation around on
    stem cells (excepting perhaps China, which don't go in for
    that sort of thing, and are a bit iffy on IP as well), now what
    appears to be a genuine attempt to wrestle through a sound
    position with respect to GMOs. Admittedly my warming up
    to the Pommie attitude to biotech is not yet based on great
    intimacy with the details of their GM debate (nor on the
    incidents reported above). But it does seem the Brits are
    having a *real* discussion, well some of them. Others are
    just doing 'a spot of gardening'.

    Roll Britannia.

    - Brett Paatsch

     



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