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and chemical additives never
before deemed possible.
A study released by the
U.S. Office of T echnology
Assessment claims that bio–
tech could produce microor–
ganisms that literally eat
toxic wastes, promote faster
and higher quality growth in
farm stock and organically
engineer substitutes for oil
products. Biotech is foreseen
as also applicable in fighting
diseases such as herpes and
cancer.
A looped plasmid of DNA molecules reveals
was near ly a decad e ago.
T he individ uals meeting
there decided that contin–
ued research i n to gene–
splicing was reasonably safe
if done under carefully con–
trolled conditions.
And thus sprang the
beginnings of the fledgling
biotech industry.
Equally impressive is the
effort aimed at correcting
genetic defects.
lf
science is
successful, doctors will be
able to examine and correct
so-called lethal genes–
genes that result in physical
its shape under electron microscopic magnifica tion.
Why Do We Need Biotech?
After tbe Asilomar confer–
ence, heated debate raged
over the philosophical, eth–
ical and physical issues sur–
rounding the molecular ge–
netic revolution. During the
1975 conference, prominent
scientists worried aloud
about the possible viru lent
and mental defects. Sorne research–
ers insist that within this century,
genetic manipulation will remove
the tragedy of birth defe.cts.
How ls lt Possible?
The infant biotech industry is made
possible by the 1973 understanding
of how to break apart and mold
together the molecular blueprint of
a gene (deoxyribonucleic acid or
DNA) and the messenger molecule
(ribonucleic acid or RNA) that
reads and transfers the DNA blue–
print.
Ever since the first humans
understood that living beings mate
"after their kind" (Gen. 1:21 ), ani–
mal breeders and farmers were
challenged by the possibilities of
select ive breeding. And now scien–
tists have been tantalized into map–
ping out chromosomes, the micro–
scopic bearer of the DN A genetic
code.
Unknown Dangers
But even as science unravels this
same genetic code, the fear arises
that science may also be unwitting–
ly opening a molecular Pandora's
box.
As research in the gene-splicing
industry began heating up in the
early 1970s, many scientists wor–
ried that a well-meaning research
team might accidentally unleac;h a
new, powerful and possibly un–
stoppable microorganism.
28
Would certain nations or terror–
ist organizations focus on develop–
ing and
using
such man-made
malignant material? Clifford Grob–
stein, an eminent biologist, voiced
another possible danger: " By
manipulating genetic substance
cou ld we inadver tently dislocate
delicate balance and unleash catas–
trophe?"
When word spread that one
prominent research team was con–
sidering developing new cancer-like
qualities in
Escherichia Coli
cells,
scientists wisely called a halt.
E. Coli
is a naturally occu rring
simple microorganism often used in
laboratory experiments because of
its favorable characteristics, most
notably its ability to reproduce rap–
idly.
Tt
exists in great q uantities in
the human body. What would hap–
pen if altered and now-virulent
E.
Coli
cells escaped to animal or
human hosts? One researcher
called it "a pre-H iroshima[-like]
condition.
It
would be a real disas–
ter if one of the agents now being
handled in research should in fact
be a real cancer agent."
Within a short time after the
ending of the proposed research
on
E. Coli,
140 scientific leaders
from Europe, the Soviet Union,
Japan, the United States and Can–
ada gathered at the Asilomar con–
ference center in Pacific Grove,
California, to map ou t safety
guidelines for gene-splicing. That
consequences. One laborato–
ry official declared: "As far as
1
am
concerned, there is no absolute
[biological] containment and all
containment is inefficient."
Another scientist, expressing the
thoughts of many, added: " T here is
no way to decide right now what a
safe organism is or what a safe
cloning vehicle is."
Many scient ists still demand
today that dangerous research be
halted until a better understanding
is achieved and universal safety
measures can be set in motion.
Mr. Wade answers for the scien–
tific majority: "Such abnegation of
intellectual curiosity is not in man's
nature, and in any case, the ques–
tion [of whether to proceed] is
moot: the door to the [genetic]
treasu re-house is already ajar, and
the only q uestion remaining is what
use will be made of the riches with–
in"
( T he Ultimate Experiment,
page 3).
Tampering with genetic blue–
prints borders on the ominous.
How? In the absence of perfected
gene-alteríng technology, hu mans
seeking healthy offspring can legal–
ly practice eugenics through abor–
tion.
1n plain words, parents fearing
birth defects or deficiencies in
unborn children cou ld choose abor–
tion- induced fetus death-if ge–
netic counseling indicated prob–
lems.
" T oday, over sixty different
The PLAIN TRUTH