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21. Are there any ethics experts overseeing the development of gene technology in Australia?
Australia’s gene technology legislation acknowledges that the ethical concerns about gene technology must be addressed, so a committee including experts in ethics has been established comprising of people with ethical expertise to advise the Regulator on decisions.
22. Why are GMOs so controversial?
One of the main reasons gene technology is seen as controversial is that genes can now be moved across the species barrier – overcoming traditional breeding limits.
For this reason some people consider gene technology to be ‘unnatural’. Others say that most foods we eat today are ‘unnatural’ because they have been radically modified over thousands of years through deliberate selection or accidental mutation.
Different opinions exist for different products in the gene technology debate. For example survey results from Biotechnology Australia, a Federal Government Agency, indicate that most health and medical applications of gene technology, such as insulin production, have nearly 66 per cent acceptance by the Australian community, whilst only 48 per cent of respondents would eat GM food.
Similarly, ethical objections are rarely voiced in relation to GMOs used for industrial purposes, such as GM oil-eating bacteria that are used to process certain types of industrial waste.
23. Are there fish genes in my strawberries?
The most talked about example of crossing the species barrier between plants and animals is research involving inserting fish genes into strawberries, to develop frost-resistant fruit. This frost-resistant fruit experiment was conducted in a laboratory in 1991, but it was never pursued. Researchers have now identified the frost tolerance characteristic in other plants, which may be a source for future research in this area.
The research did raise concerns for some people however, particularly vegetarians or those with certain religious beliefs. These ethical concerns are being considered in relation to gene technology, and the GM food labelling laws have been developed largely to facilitate consumer choice between GM and non-GM foods.
24. What is a patent?
Many people have concerns over patents on living organisms. Others argue that humans have treated life as a commodity for thousands of years, and that patenting the DNA of a pig or wheat, is no different to buying and selling a living pig or wheat.
A patent is a limited, fixed term monopoly granted by the government to the inventor. It gives the inventor the exclusive right to make, use or sell the invention, as long as the patent lasts, and to receive some return on investment. The inventor may choose to use the patent, or they may grant licenses to others to do so.
Patents are usually granted for 20-year periods. Maintaining a patent can be costly, as many countries charge annual fees on patents. Patents must be applied for in each country the inventor wants to use them in.
Without patents the enormous expense of funding the years of research required for many projects would deter many organisations from being involved. This would negatively impact not only on gene technology but in areas like medicine as well.
Patents do not restrict the inventor from sharing knowledge, or licensing technology covered with the patent, for use by others. An example of this is the mapping of the genetic structure of the rice genome. It is being shared with researchers throughout the world, free of charge.
25. Aren’t the life sciences companies the only ones who stand to benefit from this technology?
There are many people who potentially will benefit from the use of gene technology, from individuals, to farming groups or large organisations.
According to an Australian Government publication, the ‘Australian Biotechnology Report 2001’, biotechnology is worth over $1 billion to the Australian economy. The Australian government commits $300 million annually to biotechnology research. This includes funding for CSIRO, universities and research organisations such as the National Health and Medical Research Council. Most businesses operate for success and profit and multinational companies are no exception. The large crop protection and animal health companies have recognised the potential of gene technology and they are becoming more focused in the area.
Gene technology research is very expensive and time-consuming. The average GM product takes at least a decade to develop, and then there are ongoing patent costs. Most small organisations simply do not have the resources.
Many of the life science companies operating in the area of gene technology also produce pharmaceuticals. Products such as cancer treatments, antibiotics and insulin have resulted from their gene technology research.
In Australia, consumers are receiving indirect benefits from Australia’s only GM agricultural crop, cotton – with less pesticide residues in the environment. More direct benefits may be realised if foods with qualities such as improved taste, longer-shelf life, and enhanced nutritional content become available in the future.
26. Will GM foods really feed the populations of the developing world?
Despite a global surplus of food, 82 nations are unable to feed their people. This is largely a problem of distribution. By 2020 there will be an extra two-and-a-half billion people in the world, and most of this growth will be in the poorer nations.
Gene technology does not offer a magic solution to distribution problems, but what it may offer are crops with in-built disease, virus and pest resistance which would reduce the need for costly inputs, or crops that are tailored to grow under environmentally stressed conditions such as drought. These problems are prevalent throughout many developing countries, and this new technology may offer farmers the opportunity to supply food to those around them.
An example of a product developed using gene technology to aid developing nations is “Golden Rice”, a rice variety with boosted levels of Vitamin A.
Vitamin A deficiency is the leading cause of childhood blindness in developing countries, and is associated with more than one million childhood deaths each year. This rice variety will be made freely available to subsistence farmers in developing countries.
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