Tuesday, November 22, 2005


ABOUT THE PEA SOUP OF THE FUTURE...


"Researchers at Australia’s national research organisation took the gene for a protein capable of killing pea weevil pests from the common bean and transferred it into the pea. When extracted from the bean, this protein does not cause an allergic reaction in mice or people.

But the team found that when the protein is expressed in the pea, its structure is subtly different to the original in the bean. They think this structural change could be to blame for the unexpected immune effects seen in mice."

Now all we need is a good genetically modified hambone...

2 comments:

Tabor said...

This issue of biotechnology is something my husband (the scientist) and I (the skeptic) argue over sometimes.

Robert Brady said...

It's eminently arguable till doomsday. From a purely scientific standpoint, it's the opportunity of all time. If I were a scientist, I'd certainly be tempted to think about taking very small carefully controlled steps. From the spiritual standpoint, though, we don't know jack about what's in Pandora's box, where a moment ago may be too late...