Genetic Engineering does indeed have problems

[Chris J. Durden]

Thanks for the information on the law. I was aware that clonally
manufactured strains were patentable, but was not aware that this
protection had been extended to reproduction by seed - seems wrong and very
difficult to enforce.

People who are complaining about the concealment of information on the
source and composition of their foods are not "beating up" on scientists!
This has nothing to do with science but has to do with manipulation of
technology by business.

All we ask is that we have access to information upon which we can make
informed choices. This is our right.

How many of you champions of forcing the GM/GE foods down the consumers'
throats own stock in biotech companies and stand to gain from blind
acceptance. This is not science it is pure greed.

......Chris Durden

At 12:32  23/02/00 EST, you wrote:

>  The following is from the USDA website for your study: 
>http://www.ams.usda.gov/science/pvp.htm
>
>"The Plant Variety Protection Act (PVPA), enacted in December of 1970, and 
>amended in 1994, provides legal intellectual property rights protection, to 
>developers of new varieties of plants that are sexually reproduced (by seed) 
>or are tuber-propagated. Bacteria and fungi are excluded. The PVPA is 
>administered by the United States Department of Agriculture.
>
>A Certificate of Protection is awarded to an owner of a variety after an 
>examination shows that it is new, distinct from other varieties, and 
>genetically uniform and stable through successive generations.
>
>The term of protection is 20 years for most crops and 25 years for trees, 
>shrubs, and vines. The owner of a U.S. protected variety has exclusive
rights 
>to multiply and market the seed of that variety.
>
>Who benefits from PVP?
>
>The public benefits as the recipient of quality food, feed, fiber, and other 
>products that result directly from improved plant varieties. Growers of food 
>and ornamental, industrial, or medicinal crops benefit when higher quality 
>varieties are available. Plant Variety Protection allows owners of new 
>varieties to maintain control over the purity and the marketing of the 
>variety. Such protection helps companies or individuals spending time and 
>money developing a variety to obtain a return on their investment."
>