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News Release
 Response
to Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission (AEBC) Report
into regulation of animals in biotechnology
The genetic modification of animals is a modern form of alchemy, driven
by greed, not need. We are concerned that the AEBC report has glossed
over fundamental flaws in the genetic modification of animals.
Our bodies are, for practical purposes, infinitely complex. This means
that the effects of interfering with the genome of animals are fundamentally
unpredictable. That can have horrific consequences for those animals,
who suffer deformities, mutations and completely new illnesses because
of the disruption to the proper functioning of their bodies.
This complexity also has disastrous consequences for the stability and
reliability of the genetically modified animals in terms of the uses which
biotechnology wish to put them to. The bottom line is that genetic manipulators
simply don't know what they are doing. Unfortunately, biotechnology companies'
PR tends to gloss over these harsh realities in order to foster an unwarranted
confidence in their activities and products.
We are also concerned that the AEBC report's recommendations are politically
naïve, with the suggested regulatory structure being cosmetic and
toothless.
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"If you modify or knock
out a gene, you will never be able to predict the effect with 100%
confidence as we do not understand the total functioning of a gene.
You will never understand all the effects until you understand the
physiology of the whole body."
Professor Grahame Bulfield,
Director of the Roslin Institute, speaking at an AEBC public meeting.
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Millions of animals have already been subjected to damaging genetic interference
in the UK over the last decade at least. This has taken place in secret,
with virtually no public debate, and without even an adequate legal framework.
The Government has permitted biotech companies to be laws-unto-themselves,
seduced by false claims of potential economic benefits. The genetic modification
of animals signals an attempt by intensive agriculture and "bio-pharming"
to try to squeeze even more profits out of animals.
This disastrous misjudgement in Government policy has meant that short-term
commercial interests have dominated the interests of people, animals and
the environment.
The recommendation to establish a new advisory committee is, frankly,
feeble. This Government has rejected, ignored or dragged its feet on a
whole host of important recommendations made by the advisory Animals Procedures
Committee. Every time an attempt is made to assert democratic control
over the actions of those who exploit animals, the Government rebuffs
it. What is needed is a complete overhaul of the Government policy to
ensure:
- that serious ethical issues are discussed before the damage is done,
and
- that Government policy reflects society's concerns rather than being
dictated by commercial interests
It is the Government's and industry's contempt for democratic processes
which has underpinned the justified trepidation over GM foods and, with
GM animals, it's business as usual.
Examples of harmful unforeseen consequences of genetic modification
- Pigs produced with human growth hormone gene (the "Beltsville
Experiment"): severe arthritis; crippled; lethargy; ulcers;
heart problems; blindness; impotence.
- Gene deletion experiments ("knock-out" GM animals):
frequent multiple pathologies; deformed genitals; missing limbs; extra
limbs; involuntary movements; gross deformities of the head and brain;
blindness.
- Cloned animals: high rates of miscarriage and infant mortality;
"large-offspring syndrome"; lethal heart defects; fatal lymph
system abnormalities; high cancer rates; premature ageing.
Related links:
Uncaged Campaigns 03.09.02
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