-Caveat Lector-
SkeptiNews 990721b - - - - - - - - - - - All The News That's Fit To Question
: Passages starting with ':' are editorial comments to provoke discussion.
: Nothing contained herein is ever endorsed for truth, accuracy or meaning.
: No DNA was maliciously resequenced during production of this bulletin.
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# Toughest bug reveals genetic secrets. (BBC) Scientists decode the genetic
blueprint of one of the hardiest micro-organisms on Earth. Tough bastard:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_399000/399972.stm
# Also: Similarity in diversity:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_386000/386516.stm
# 'Working draft' of human genome by 2000:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_297000/297166.stm
@ Links: Pyrococcus abyssi genome: http://www.genoscope.cns.fr/Pab/
@ Inst.Genomic Research; Microbe database: http://tigr.org/tdb/mdb/mdb.html
: Would you like gene sequences from tough lifeforms inserted into your DNA?
Would you become more macho? D'ya want your DNA re-engineered for virility,
toughness, rugged beauty, pain tolerance, fast reflexes, James Bond-ness?
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@ DON'T I OWN MY GENETIC INFORMATION? You know where I stand on this - if we
give our urine to our employers, what will we have to give next? Employers
who do look at genetic information argue that they have a right to judge
an employee's medical fitness. Ethically, though, that information belongs
to you. http://healthcentral.com/drdean/DeanFullTextTopics.cfm?ID=14391
: Do you own your DNA patterns? Would you sell your own DNA to an attractive
bidder? Have you done so already? Has anyone stolen your DNA? Have you sued?
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# Cloned animals could save burns victims. (BBC) Two genetically-engineered
lambs have been born which produce a human protein needed to treat burns
and the technique could be used much more widely. Clone me a liver:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_400000/400160.stm
# Also: Q&A: What is cloning?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_377000/377180.stm
# Cloning may lead to 'medical revolution':
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_376000/376810.stm
# Dolly goes to market:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_335000/335870.stm
# Scientists clone a goat:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_329000/329107.stm
@ Links: PPL Therapeutics: http://www.ppl-therapeutics.com/
@ Roslin Institute: http://www2.ri.bbsrc.ac.uk/library/research/cloning/
: What's your favorite bioengineered product? Who do you clone to get it? Do
you want to be cloned to produce necessities? Should you be paid royalties??
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# SCIENTISTS: FIGHT PUBLIC FEARS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY. Pres. Roger N. Beachy of
Danforth Plant Science Center calls for US scientists to participate more
aggressively in the debate over agricultural biotechnology. Beachy notes
that a growing number of editorials and articles in the popular press, first
in Europe and more recently in the US, describe in exaggerated language the
"dangers and unknown effects" of the new crop varieties and the foods
derived from them. But in contrast to Europe, in the US the commercial use
of genetically modified crops since 1993 has occurred after comprehensive
scientific reviews and approval by federal regulatory agencies. At present
in the US, more than 40 percent of the corn, 50 percent of the cotton, and
45 percent of the soybean acres planted during 1999 will be genetically
modified, reducing the use of chemical pesticides by millions of pounds.
Beachy says: "It is important for scientists to realize that times have
changed and to engage in dialogue with the public rather than retreat from
it. And it is important to convey to the public that the great majority of
reputable scientists working in the field consider both the processes and
the products of agricultural biotechnology to be beneficial to the
environment and safe for the consumer." (Science 16 Jul 99)
: Are you afraid of biotech? Does your irradiated food glow in the dark? Is
your gene resequencing complete? Are you RoundUp(r)-resistant yet? Why not?
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# GM crops without foreign genes. (BBC) Scientists may soon be able to make
genetically-modified (GM) crops without splicing genes between species.
The method might be an answer to the objections of groups opposed to GM
crops who say that, for example, taking an anti-freeze gene from a fish
and inserting it into a strawberry is unnatural and dangerous. But tasty:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_400000/400041.stm
# Also: GM wheat 'could aid Third World'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_394000/394949.stm
# GM plants to produce medicinal honey
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_377000/377035.stm
# GM food: Charles' 10 questions answered
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_358000/358287.stm
# New GM crop warning
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_288000/288755.stm
@ Links: Proceeding National Academy of Science http://www.pnas.org/
@ Friends of the Earth http://www.foe.co.uk/
@ Food future http://www.foodfuture.org.uk/
: What gene sequences do you want to shuffle? Do you cheat when shuffling?
Will you report in to have your own genes resequenced? Are you disordered?
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# LET'S SNUFF OUT EAR CANDLING. The ear candling craze just won't go away,
even though it is just another health myth. How can anyone think sticking
a candle in your ear and lighting it is healthy? Set your head on fire:
http://www.healthcentral.com/drdean/DeanFullTextTopics.cfm?ID=14399
@ SHOULD MOM HAVE BEEN WAXING FLOORS INSTEAD OF EARS? Ear candling is an old
time treatment, but it doesn't do anything. Buy an ear candle and burn in
in a jar and see what happens. Don't stick candles into your orifices:
http://www.healthcentral.com/drdean/DeanFullTextTopics.cfm?ID=14383
# NEW 'RHYTHM' METHOD OF LOWERING BLOOD PRESSURE. An Israeli biophysicist
has developed a way of getting patients to breathe in rhythm with synch-
ronized music that helps lower blood pressure - more so than just relaxing
and listening to music. Don't try this if Yanni really pisses you off:
http://www.healthcentral.com/drdean/DeanFullTextTopics.cfm?ID=14394
: What's your favorite health myth? Have you tried nose-candling, iridology,
quantum masturbation, hemorrhoid-removal visualization, infrared algal scum?
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"It's better to be Wasserman positive, than never to have loved at all." an.
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