SUPPORTERS of the biotech industry have accused an American scientist of
misconduct after she testified to the New Zealand government that a genetically
modified bacterium could wreak havoc if released.
The New Zealand Life Sciences Network, an association of pro-GM scientists
and organisations, says the view expressed by Elaine Ingham, a soil biologist at
Oregon State University in Corvallis, was exaggerated and irresponsible. It has
asked her university to discipline her.
But Ingham stands by her comments and says the complaints are an attempt to
silence her. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e trying to cause trouble with my university and get me
fired,鈥� Ingham told 快猫短视频.
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The controversy began on 1 February, when Ingham testified before New
Zealand鈥檚 Royal Commission on Genetic Modification, which will determine how to
regulate GM organisms. Ingham claimed that a GM version of a common soil
bacterium called Klebsiella planticola could spread and devastate
plants if released into the wild. Other researchers had previously modified the
bacterium to produce alcohol from organic waste. But Ingham says that when she
put it in soil with wheat plants, all of the plants died within a week.
鈥淲e would lose terrestrial plants . . . this is an organism that is
potentially lethal to the continued survival of human beings,鈥� she told the
commission. She added that the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revoked
its approval for field tests using the organism once she had told them about her
research in 1999.
But last week the New Zealand Life Sciences Network accused Ingham of
鈥減resenting inaccurate, careless and exaggerated information鈥� and 鈥済enerating
speculative doomsday scenarios that are not scientifically supportable鈥�. They
say that her study doesn鈥檛 even show that the bacteria would survive in the
wild, much less kill massive numbers of plants. What鈥檚 more, the network says
that contrary to Ingham鈥檚 claims, the EPA was never asked to consider the
organism for field trials.
The EPA has not commented on the dispute. But an e-mail to the network from
Janet Anderson, director of the EPA鈥檚 biopesticides division, says 鈥渢here is no
record of a review and/or clearance to field test鈥� the organism.
Ingham says EPA officials had told her that the organism was approved for
field tests, but says she has few details. It鈥檚 also not clear whether the
organism, first engineered by the Institute for Biotechnology in J眉lich,
Germany, is still in use.
Whether Ingham is right or wrong, her supporters say opponents are trying
unfairly to silence her.
鈥淚 think her concerns should be taken seriously. She shouldn鈥檛 be harassed in
this way,鈥� says Ann Clarke, a plant biologist at the University of Guelph in
Canada who also testified before the commission. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an attempt to silence the
辞辫辫辞蝉颈迟颈辞苍.鈥�
The Provost of Oregon State University, Timothy P. White, says the school is
investigating the complaint.