AUSTRALIAN researchers who wanted to create a contraceptive vaccine to
control mouse numbers almost created a monster in the process
(13 January, p 3).
The scientists at the CSIRO Wildlife Division and the Australian National
University, working in Canberra, modified a mousepox virus to include the gene
for a biologically active protein called interleukin 4, which can modulate
immune responses. To their surprise, all the mice died. Adding the gene had
turned a merely nasty virus into a deadly killer. I asked science minister Lord
Sainsbury to comment on this alarming news.
Sainsbury replied that in Britain, such work would have been controlled under
the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 2000. Northern
Ireland has similar, but separate, legislation which it is currently updating.
Risk assessment, he added, is key to identifying appropriate containment and
control measures. Britain鈥檚 Advisory Committee on Genetic Modification produces
detailed guidelines on risk assessment for the research community. These include
advice on the modification of viruses and a warning to researchers to pay
particular attention to the insertion of proteins that can modulate an immune
response鈥攊n other words, cytokines.
The minister said he is asking the ACGM to advise on what additional guidance
might be necessary to ensure that all researchers are fully aware of the dangers
associated with genetic modifications involving cytokines.
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FISHERMEN often catch much more than they bargain for, especially when they
use nets that trap fish by their gills. Unfortunately, gill nets are normally
invisible to dolphins, porpoises and whales, because they are transparent to
their echolocation systems. The creatures get caught up and drown.
I was interested, therefore, to read that Atlantic Gillnet of Gloucester,
Massachusetts, has developed a net that these sea mammals can detect
(6 January, p 7).
The nylon strands of the net are impregnated with barium sulphate to
reflect sound in the frequency range that the creatures use for echolocation. I
asked fisheries minister Elliot Morley if the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries
and Food knew of this development.
Morley said that MAFF now funds Britain鈥檚 Sea Mammal Research Unit at the
University of St Andrews to research the issue of 鈥渂ycatch鈥�. It is monitoring
trials on the effectiveness of the American net. So far the results have been
mixed, with recent tests producing fewer positive results than the preliminary
ones. Some fishermen even report a reduction in their target fish catch.
The general view is the number of sea mammals snared as bycatch will only be
reduced if fishing gear is modified and the nets incorporate acoustic devices
such as 鈥減ingers鈥�, and if action is taken at an international level.
CRY foul! A goalkeeper was badly burnt during a recent football match in
Wales when he fell on a corrosive goal-line marking to save a goal
(2 December 2000, p 14).
He needed skin grafts as a result of his injury. Half a century
ago, I too played in a match in which the goalkeeper was burnt by lime (calcium
hydroxide) markings.
As a result of the recent incident, sports minister, Kate Hoey, contacted the
Football Association for advice on what needs to be done. Alan Hudson, head of
sports medicine at the FA, told her that calcium hydroxide should no longer be
used for pitch markings. Safer markings based on vegetable dyes are available as
recommended by the British Institute of Groundsmanship.
Amateur football clubs need to be reminded that vegetable-dye pitch markings
are a winner: they don鈥檛 burn the skin on contact.