The Release of Genetically Modified Microorganisms—REGEM 2 (1992) (F.E.M.S. Symposium Series #63)

By: Duncan E. S. Stewart-Tull and Max Sussman

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Synopsis: If ripple effect is a measure of greatness in scientific discovery then GEMMOs have a lot going for them and this book dramatically illustrates the risks associated with advances being made by researchers to mobilize and control the power of the microorganism in the world's fight to perfect nature and fmd remedies for its imperfections. In the field of genetic science it is abundantly clear that so much more can be achieved through prevention rather than cure and that the indirect kill, by reason of its logic is a much more powerful weapon for winning results. Nevertheless the dilemma facing politicians arises over whether man should tamper with something which is God-given such as Radioactivity and Genetic endowment. The Roman Catholic church fmds difficulty in accepting the proposition that what is God given can be treated as a product under human control and maybe that is why recently half a century of genetic research on a strain of bees resistant to a devastating parasite at the Buckfastleigh Benedictine Monastery has inexplicably ceased whilst verging on scientific success.(l) The Anglican Community on the other hand does not see the sacrosanctity of Radioactivity and Genetic material as a bar to man-manipulation with appropriate safeguards.