Theme 4 - Social and Ethical Issues
Where does the community have confidence in the gene technology regulatory scheme? How can this be maintained?
Response
I am vegetarian by religion.
If animal genes could be present in food-plants, then I cannot eat anything that might contain such plants as ingredients - which for me ultimately means, starvation!
Once an animal-gene is inserted into a plant, that is irreversible because the whole species can be contaminated with that gene and is no longer safe to eat.
If animal genes could be present in food-plants, then I cannot eat anything that might contain such plants as ingredients - which for me ultimately means, starvation!
Once an animal-gene is inserted into a plant, that is irreversible because the whole species can be contaminated with that gene and is no longer safe to eat.
Where is there a lack of community confidence in the gene technology regulatory scheme? Why might this be, and how can confidence be built?
Response
Confidence could be built by ensuring that no animal-sourced genes can ever be inserted into plants.
Note that when it is deemed necessary to insert an animal gene into a plant, it may be OK from a religious point of view if a similar gene is constructed artificially rather than taken from an actual animal.
Note that when it is deemed necessary to insert an animal gene into a plant, it may be OK from a religious point of view if a similar gene is constructed artificially rather than taken from an actual animal.