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12 THE RURAL VOICE
Robert Mercer
Man does not live by DNA alone
A book review in the Ontario
Corn Producer magazine got me
thinking again about the debate over
the benefits and risks of biotechnol-
ogy or, as some people say, genetic
engineering. A
better term to
my way of
thinking is
"precision
hybridizing".
The book in
question was
Mad Cows and
Mother's Milk
and it reminded
me that some of
the best
research gets
little publicity
while some of
the worst gets
• far more than it deserves.
On the plus side of biotechnology
there is the story of Dr. Zamir Punja
of Simon Fraser University who, in
1996, became the first scientist in the
world to successfully clone American
ginseng in the laboratory. He can do
in one year what seeds do in three.
But who has heard of him?
The work of Dr. Punja is a major
breakthrough for ginseng growers as
there are no distinct varieties of
ginseng. Thus, cloning will allow the
industry to develop genetically
enhanced varieties of plants in a short
time period. This work is aimed at
improving the active chemicals in the
plant root and to try and develop
strains that are resistant to fungal
disease and pests.
Some of the opponents to
technological advances are the very
same people that are so willing to
spend money on natural health
products, such as ginseng. It is used
for relief of suffering in such ailments
as high blood pressure, stress,
hypertension and fatigue.
Although I have not read the book
it would seem from the review and
the editorial, that the authors, Doug
Powell of the University of Guelph
and William Leiss of Queen's
University, have not given this debate
some of the ethical considerations •
that arise when moral issues arc
addressed in relationship to Biblical
beliefs.
The general debate over
biotechnology moved into high gear
when the first cloning of the mammal
species occurred with Dolly the
sheep. How poignant this is, in its
symbolic reference to the Old
Testament where the Lamb is the
sacrificial gift. Then too, in the New
Testament the Lamb of God is the
symbol of salvation.
I am hopeful that as the debate on
biotechnology advances, the thought
process about tinkering with life's
building blocks will lead to learned
discussion — not heated debate — on
the spiritual concerns of life. And this
in turn will, I hope, put God back on
the agenda of science and politics.
Those who are indeed involved
with research, the legislation and the
moral issues will, I hope, find their
way to pondering the question "Is
there indeed a reference point outside
of ourselves and our understanding
after all?" If so, then in this
technological age there is added
reason to look beyond science to
where the Creator fits, or doesn't fit,
into this discussion.
"Mankind does not live by DNA
alone."
I have no problems about the
benefits of biotechnology to
agriculture, and I recognize that there
are risks as well as benefits.
However, all these benefits are of
little use if genetic engineering falls
prey to bad public opinion such as
happened with BST and Mad Cow
Disease. In their book the authors of
Mad Cows and Mother's Milk
implore farmers to get out and speak
out in defense of good science. They
say, speak honestly, with credibility
and consistency. Don't leave this
communications problem to the
bureaucrats or the politicians as they
have lost the trust of the public.
The book is subtitled The Perils of
Poor Risk Communication and it