Author Archives: Chris MacDonald

From the Daily Mail (Nov. 3, ’08) The GM genocide: Thousands of Indian farmers are committing suicide after using genetically modified crops When Prince Charles claimed thousands of Indian farmers were killing themselves after using GM crops, he was branded … Continue reading →

2 more articles to recommend re the ACLU v. Myriad case I mentioned a few days ago. They are: Rebecca Skloot, writing for Double X, provides this very good overview of the issues & an explanation of what’s at stake: … Continue reading →

From BusinessGreen.com: Mandelson: Biotech to plant seeds for low-carbon chemicals industry Industrial biotechnology – the use of plants in producing materials and chemicals – has the potential to cut greenhouse gas emissions across the EU chemicals industry by five per … Continue reading →

From CNN: ACLU sues over patents on breast cancer genes Patents on two human genes linked to breast and ovarian cancers are being challenged in court by the American Civil Liberties Union, which argues that patenting pure genes is unconstitutional … Continue reading →

Hacking is fun. Most people think of hacking as involving breaking into computer systems. But in its broadest sense, hacking means roughly taking an existing system and fiddling with its parts to make it do something it wasn’t designed to … Continue reading →

From the Guardian: First genome transplant turns one species into another Scientists have converted an organism into an entirely different species by performing the world’s first genome transplant, a breakthrough that paves the way for the creation of synthetic forms … Continue reading →

Here’s a good example to demonstrate that, contrary to popular opinion, business does not always hate regulation. Good, clear, consistent regulation is good for business. L.A. Times: Genetic testing system is badly flawed, experts say Genetic tests that predict a … Continue reading →

Most people have never heard of “industrial biotechnology.” They’ve heard of the kind of biotech that is going to “revolutionize” health-care, and they’ve heard of agricultural biotech (via the debate over GM foods). But aside from a few vague references … Continue reading →

From the Associated Press: SKorean experts claim to have cloned glowing dogs South Korean scientists say they have engineered four beagles that glow red using cloning techniques that could help develop cures for human diseases. The four dogs, all named … Continue reading →

From Discover: New Biotech Corn Gives Triple Vitamin Boost; Protestors Unmoved A new genetically modified (GM) corn that produces beta carotene and precursors of vitamin C and folic acid is the first crop to be engineered to make more than … Continue reading →