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Article: Meddling with genes. (genetic engineering) (editorial)
- Article from:
- The Economist (US)
- Article date:
- September 16, 1989
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1989 Economist Newspaper Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Meddling with genes
THE most publicised products of genetic engineering often sound, to the fearful, as though they have all the sinister potential of real-life triffids. Scientists devise trees that glow in the dark; environmentalists worry that their genes could run amok in other parts of the forest. Engineered bugs protect plants against frost; pessimists fear that they could interfere with natural condensation, causing dramatic changes in the weather. Yet genetic engineering offers, too, the hope of solutions to problems most people long to resolve: more food for the hungry, fast-growing trees to replace deforestation, cures for diseases. To politicians ...