sd: GENETIC ENGINEERING MISTAKES "GENIE IN BOTTLE"

Many mistakes are occurring in the laboratory and the environment as a =
result of genetic engineering, but the warning signs are being largely =
ignored, Greenpeace revealed in a new report published today.=20

The report, "Genetic Engineering: Too Good to go Wrong?" is the first =
compilation of a number of different genetic engineering developments =
around the world which have produced quite unexpected, and often =
alarming results, including genetically engineered bacteria which:=20

a.. unexpectedly killed beneficial soil fungi;=20
b.. escaped into sewers through human error and unanticipated =
pathways=20
c.. have become toxic to plants or survived when they weren't =
expected to.=20
Author of the report, Dr Doug Parr, says it shows that things will =
inevitably go wrong in genetic engineering, against all the best =
predictions. As genetic engineering deals with living organisms which =
reproduce, and as most of the industry is focused on engineering plants =
for agricultural applications, the mistakes will be very difficult to =
control once out in the fields.=20

"It's like the genie in the bottle: once it's out, you cannot put it =
back. There is very little appreciation of the inherent unpredictability =
of the science of genetic engineering. Already there are too many cases =
of things going wrong," said Parr.=20

Yet Governments seem awe-struck by the genetic engineering industry, =
which produces most of the scientific output on the subject. The boom in =
the biotechnology industry relies on "good news" to keep share prices =
up, thus creating strong pressure on the source science.=20

"The science of genetic engineering is unpredictable, but few, from =
scientists to Governments, dare raise the fact that today's 'Golden =
Goose' of industry is laying some rotten eggs," said Susan Leubuscher, =
of Greenpeace's European Unit.=20

"In a few years' time, it will be easy to say 'we shouldn't have done =
it'. Do we have to have a disaster on the scale of BSE before the =
European Commission finally wakes up and bans genetic experiments in our =
agriculture and our food?" said Leubuscher.=20

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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:=20
Susan Lebuscher or Isabelle Meister on ++32 2 280 1400=20

Brussels, Belgium 14 October 1997 =20

Many mistakes are occurring in the laboratory and the environment as = a result=20 of genetic engineering, but the warning signs are being largely ignored, = Greenpeace revealed in a new report published today.=20

The report, "Genetic Engineering: Too Good to go Wrong?" is = the=20 first compilation of a number of different genetic engineering = developments=20 around the world which have produced quite unexpected, and often = alarming=20 results, including genetically engineered bacteria which:=20

unexpectedly killed beneficial soil fungi;=20
escaped into sewers through human error and unanticipated = pathways=20
have become toxic to plants or survived when they weren't = expected to.=20

Author of the report, Dr Doug Parr, says it shows that things will = inevitably=20 go wrong in genetic engineering, against all the best predictions. As = genetic=20 engineering deals with living organisms which reproduce, and as most of = the=20 industry is focused on engineering plants for agricultural applications, = the=20 mistakes will be very difficult to control once out in the fields.=20

"It's like the genie in the bottle: once it's out, you cannot = put it=20 back. There is very little appreciation of the inherent unpredictability = of the=20 science of genetic engineering. Already there are too many cases of = things going=20 wrong," said Parr.=20

Yet Governments seem awe-struck by the genetic engineering industry, = which=20 produces most of the scientific output on the subject. The boom in the=20 biotechnology industry relies on "good news" to keep share = prices up,=20 thus creating strong pressure on the source science.=20

"The science of genetic engineering is unpredictable, but few, = from=20 scientists to Governments, dare raise the fact that today's 'Golden = Goose' of=20 industry is laying some rotten eggs," said Susan Leubuscher, of=20 Greenpeace's European Unit.=20

"In a few years' time, it will be easy to say 'we shouldn't have = done=20 it'. Do we have to have a disaster on the scale of BSE before the = European=20 Commission finally wakes up and bans genetic experiments in our = agriculture and=20 our food?" said Leubuscher.=20

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:=20

Susan Lebuscher or Isabelle Meister on ++32 2 280 1400