Date: Tuesday, March 18, 1997   
Source: Ronnie Cummins, National director, Pure Food Campaign.   
Section: COMMENTARY   
Column: Voice of the people (letter).   
Parts: 12   
Dateline: WASHINGTON    
Copyright Chicago Tribune

GENETIC ROULETTE

An editorial and various commentaries appearing in the Tribune on the cloning of animals, and possible cloning of humans, have neglected to mention the many horrific failures associated with genetic engineering.

For all of the successes in this area of research, it should be noted that things can also go terribly wrong, producing disastrous results. Here are only a few examples of the ugly side of genetic engineering:
- The creation of freak, gigantic cows by gene engineers. The wombs of mother cows had to be split open to allow the horribly oversized, cloned calves to be born.
- U.S. government gene engineers spliced human growth genes into the permanent genetic code of pigs--hoping to create a "super" pig. Instead of becoming larger, pigs were born arthritic, bowlegged and cross-eyed.
- Researchers conducting experiments at Michigan State University found that genetically splicing plants can cause viruses to mutate into new, more virulent forms that could seriously damage the ecosystem.
- A batch of genetically engineered L-tryptophan, an anti-depressant, anti-insomnia drug produced in Japan, killed 29 Americans and permanently injured more than 1,500 more. Given that these are but a few of many gene and cloning experiments gone awry, it's not surprising that insurance companies refuse to provide liability coverage for genetic engineering experiments. The unpredictable risks of catastrophic damages from a "biotech Chernobyl" are simply too high a risk.

For these and similar reasons most Americans are highly suspicious of genetically engineered products. A recent Time/CNN poll found that 93 percent of Americans oppose human cloning, and 66 percent oppose animal cloning. There needs to be an immediate ban on the cloning of animals or humans, including the insertion of human genes into animals and animal organ transplants into humans. Until there has been a full public debate on the ethical, human health and environmental consequences of this presently out-of-control technology, moving ahead is reckless, immoral and possibly quite dangerous.

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