|
brussels, november 25th, 2002
colonic cancer genes used to engineer new
crop plants by speeding up evolution
us biotech industry out of control
Friends of the Earth today expressed "shock
and anger" at yesterday's report in United
Kingdom (UK) newspaper The Observer that
Morphotek, a US-based biotechnology company,
were planning to use the genes that cause
colonic cancer in humans to generate new
crops varieties by speeding up the
evolutionary process. The new technique is
called morphogenics.
Morphotek is based in Pennsylvania. It is
currently trying to persuade transnational
biotech companies, such as Bayer, Monsanto
and Syngenta, to adopt the new technique they
have developed following research at John
Hopkins University, Baltimore. "It is
staggering that this technology which raises
huge ethical and safety issues has progressed
so far in the US without being challenged by
the regulators and been subject to a full
public debate. For many people in Europe, the
use of human cancer genes in producing crop
plants will be a step too far, " said Geert
Ritsema, GMO Campaign Coordinator for Friends
of the Earth Europe.
Genes that trigger colonic cancer in
humans were isolated by the team which set up
Morphotek. The genes create a chain of
mutations in all plants, mammals and micro
organisms which can produce thousands of
mutated offspring which are then screened for
useful characteristics. In plants the
selected offspring are then breed to produce
new crop varieties with a range of character,
such as drought and pest resistance, that
Morphotek claim would be impossible using
conventional breeding in the same time scale.
The technology has been likened by some
commentators to speeding up evolution with a
"rocket powered backpack".
Morphotek uses Genetic Modification (GM)
techniques to get the cancer genes into crops
and claims that they can be bred out before
the mutated varieties are put on the market.
US patents have been granted to scientists on
the Morphotek board and more have been
applied for.
"The US Administration seems to accept any
GM development without question so the EU has
a vital role in ensuring that GM technology
is controlled and rejected if unethical or
high risk. Morphotek is already touting
morphogenics to the big biotech companies in
Europe. Friends of the Earth trust that the
European Commission and the European
Parliament will be very critical of this new
GM technology. We urge the EU to organise a
public debate on morphogenetics and
scrutinize this new gene technology very
carefully. Only after consultation of the
public and thorough scientific research a
decision can be taken whether to allow
morphogenetics in the EU or not ”, added
Geert Ritsema.
For more information contact Friends of
the Earth in Brussels:
Geert Ritsema, GMO Campaign
Coordinator
Phone: +32-2-542 0182 Mobile: + 31-6 –290 05
908
|
