REGULATING gene technology is a hot issue on both sides of the Tasman. New
Zealand has just launched a Royal Commission into the area, with the government
calling for a one-year moratorium on release of genetically modified organisms
(GMOs) while it is in progress. And in Australia, the approach proposed by the
Federal government has drawn a heated response from at least one state
premier.
Former chief justice Sir Thomas Eichelbaum heads New Zealand鈥檚 Royal
Commission on Genetic Modification. The other members are an academic
biochemist, a Maori health expert and a minister of religion. They have a budget
of NZ$5 million and 12 months to inquire into gene technologies and to
recommend any changes to current laws, regulations or institutional arrangements
to ensure use of the new technologies is in the interests of the community. The
Minister for Environment and Biosecurity, Marian Hobbs, has called for a
voluntary pause in applications for the release of GMOs during the time of the
inquiry. She has threatened to make such a moratorium compulsory if the
voluntary approach does not work.
Meanwhile in Australia, environment minister Robert Hill has proposed a new
regulatory regime for GMOs. The changes would give the environment minister
power to hold up applications for the release of GMOs. While the Gene Technology
Regulator, a statutory official, would retain the ultimate power to decide on
the release of any GMO, Hill proposes that the regulator would have to provide a
full report to the environment minister if going against that minister鈥檚 advice.
Some see these measures as sensibly cautious. But the states are unhappy that
such a structure is being considered without consulting them, and that
environmental interests might override commercial priorities.
Advertisement
I have seen a strong letter on the topic written by Queensland premier, Peter
Beattie, in which he attacks the powers proposed for the Commonwealth minister.
He says they are a threat to developing a nationally consistent regulatory
framework which provides 鈥渃ertainty to all relevant stakeholders鈥� and that the
new scheme gives the Federal environment minister 鈥渦nacceptable鈥� influence on
decisions. Several states have big plans for the commercial development of
biotechnology. It is clearly important that their proposals be dealt with
consistently, and for the overall benefit of community.
Medical instructors in Adelaide are using synthetic human flesh to teach
students how to treat wounds.
A suturing pad made from a plastic which resembles the texture of human flesh
is marked to simulate different types of wounds. It is part of a kit developed
by Rod Cooter, from Adelaide University鈥檚 Department of Surgery. The kit
includes an instructional CD-ROM and a users guide. The pad is accompanied by
surgical instruments and materials so that students can copy examples of best
practice presented on the CD-ROM.
Cooter developed the kit because he found traditional teaching in medicine
and nursing did not provide students with the skills they need to treat wounds.
He believes the kit allows the development of a standard approach to treating
wounds, from cleaning and suturing to managing the resulting scar tissue.
The package has been trialled with 80 medical students. It has also been
incorporated into a distance learning programme for the Royal Australian College
of Surgeons. So it is expected to help nurses and medicos in remote areas,
including those working for the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the
military.
A FITTING tribute was paid last Tuesday evening to Ian Anderson, the former
editor of this Australasian edition of 快猫短视频. He was joint
winner of one of Australia鈥檚 most significant science awards, the Industry,
Science and Resources Eureka Prize for the Promotion of Science. The posthumous
prize acknowledges his role as the driving force behind ScienceNOW!, the
national science forum held each year in Melbourne. This year鈥檚
ScienceNOW!鈥攚hich gathers together the brightest and best young
researchers in Australia to present their work to the media and the general
public鈥攊s strutting its stuff as this column goes to print, while the
other joint winner of the award, the Sydney-based Science in the Pub, is on
safari in the Outback.
Anderson鈥檚 prize will generate a continuing memorial. At the awards ceremony,
his wife Robin announced that, in keeping with his wishes, she will use the
money to launch a Trust to bring an eminent foreign science journalist to
Australia each year.