| What Is G.E.C.K.O.?
Genetic Engineering Concerning
Kids’ Opinions was set up to help New Zealand children find out about genetic
engineering, and to help them write submissions to the Royal Commission on Genetic
Modification.
The Royal Commission wants to know
how New Zealanders feel about G.E. Because today’s kids will be in charge of our
country in the future, GECKO thinks it’s really important for them to have a say
about how N.Z. deals with the science of genetic engineering.
GECKO’s E mail address is: happygecko@paradise.net.nz
(If you write to us, please tell us which school you go to. Thanks.)
What Is Genetic Engineering
?
Genes
All living things ( like plants, mammals, insects, fish, people, bacteria, and microbes )
are called organisms. They are all made up of tiny little cells. Inside each cell, there
are chromosomes. Chromosomes are made up of sequences of DNA that are called genes.
DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic
acid, and it is a bit like a little alphabet that has only four letters: A,G,C,and T.
(Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine, and Thymine). So a gene is like a word made up of these four
letters; a chromosome is like a sentence made up of gene-‘words’; and a cell is
like a paragraph made up of chromosome-‘sentences’.
Genes tell cells what to do. They
make living things big or small; they tell them what colour to be; they tell food if it
should be sweet or sour. Genes are like recipes or instructions that tell a thing how to
be. Your genes come from your parents.
G.E.
Genetic Engineering is also called Genetic Modification. It means adding or taking away
part of a chromosome.( Which is like changing a few words in a sentence). Scientists can
use chemicals to cut out bits of DNA and swap them with genes from other organisms, to
make a GE cell.
But because genetic engineering is
a very difficult science, promoter genes from viruses and bacteria are also added to the
DNA, to help ‘switch on’ the new gene’s instructions. Marker genes are put
in too. They work like shields, to protect the engineered genes from the poisons
(antibiotics) that scientists use to test them.
So by engineering genes, scientists
can put some of an organisms’ instructions into other living things. Overseas they
have put the genes that stop cold-water fish from freezing to death, into warm-weather
plants’ cells to make new plants with fruits and vegetables that can be grown in very
cold places. They have put toad and silkworm genes into potatoes to try to stop them
rotting. Bacteria genes have been put into corn to kill insects. Human genes have been put
into cows to try and make GE milk. Genetic engineering has also been tried with trees,
medicines, animals, and some plants that are used to make fabric.
Some scientists say GE is really
useful. But other scientists say that only a very little bit is known about DNA and genes,
and that GE mistakes can’t be fixed so GE is very dangerous. You can’t always be
sure how genetic engineering will turn out. It could make useful new organisms, or it
could make new poisons and diseases that will hurt plants, people, or other animals. This
may happen straight away, or take a long time and last forever.
So far in New Zealand research has
been done with GE apples, potatoes, kiwifruit, and tamarillo. Trials have to be done with
special permission, in a closed place, because of the things that might go wrong. GE
plants have to be covered because they might be poisonous to insects and birds ( and the
animals that eat them), or their pollen might harm other plants.
Some New Zealanders think that GE
is a great idea because they want to change the foods, medicines, and crops we already
have.
Some New Zealanders say they
don’t mind the GE food that is already in our supermarkets. (The soy, corn, canola,
and cottonseed that are used in some brands of cereal, biscuits, margarine, oil, and
processed foods). They say it’s fine to have GE food, but it should be labelled, so
people can choose whether or not to buy it.
Some New Zealanders don’t want
any genetic engineering or GE organisms to be allowed in our country. They say the big
companies that own the information about genes are lying about GE being safe just to make
lots of money, and that they don’t care if people, animals, or the environment get
hurt.
But you can’t be GE-free if
your neighbour has GE organisms, because the genes can spread (Like the germs spread when
you catch a cold from someone).
So New Zealanders have to get
together and decide what they will do…
What is the Royal
Commission?
The Royal Commission on Genetic Modification is a group of people the New Zealand
government has chosen, to find out what New Zealanders think and feel about GE. They have
to gather lots of information, then report back so the government can tell other countries
what N.Z. wants to do about GE.
The Commissioners are:
Jaqueline Allan. She is a doctor, a Maori health adviser, and a teacher.
Thomas Eichelbaum, who has been a lawyer, a judge, chief justice, and a chairman of many
committees;
Jean Fleming, a university lecturer, who has researched GE and many other sciences,
Richard Randerson, who has studied religion, been a church minister, an educator, and is a
bishop;
The commissioners also have people
to help them with their work. Their job is to find out about GE’s uses and risks.
They have to find out how using GE, or being GE-free, might help or hurt New
Zealand’s people, animals, plants, and environment. They have to listen to
people’s feelings about why they think GE is good or bad.
The Commission also have to think
about the Treaty of Waitangi, people’s religions, different cultures, our health, our
native plants and animals, money, science, the choices we should have, and what other
countries will think about N.Z. What a hard job!
So far, the Commission has had lots
of meetings with all sorts of people around New Zealand. They had Scoping Meetings, where
big lists were made of different people’s ideas. There were hearings, where groups
asked for interested persons status so they can cross-examine the experts and give
evidence to the Commission. They had Public Meetings, so People could tell the Commission
their feelings and worries about GE.
Because the Commission’s job
is so important, there will be people and groups giving evidence for and against GE, until
the middle of 2001.
As well as coming to meetings, New
Zealanders can also make a written submission .to the Royal Commission…
What Is a Written
Submission?
A written submission is like a letter to the Royal Commission, telling them your ideas and
feelings about GE in New Zealand. Anyone can make a submission. It doesn’t matter how
old you are, where you live, or where you come from. You don’t have to be a scientist
or an expert to write to the commission – just tell them about any GE worries you
have, tell them how you feel.
Your submission can have headings,
pictures, a poem, or anything else that helps you get your message across. It can be long
or short, but there are some things that submissions must have:
* Big, clear, tidy writing (by
hand, typewriter, or computer);
* Your name and address;
*Use A4 – size paper;
*You can use more than one piece of paper, but only write on one side of each piece;
*You must begin with a key message: a one-sentence title, that tells the person reading it
what your submission is going to be about;
*A body: the main part of your submission tells about your feelings and thoughts to do
with GE. Tell the Commission what you think N.Z. should do.
*If you use colours, choose ones that will show up nicely when they are photocopied (The
Commission will make copies of everyone’s submissions, so they can all have one to
read);
It’s a good idea to tell the
Commission your age, because they want to know what young New Zealanders think, as well as
grown-ups.
It’s also a good idea for you,
your friends, and your family to send your submissions in separate envelopes. Then the
Commission can see that every submission is important and that it’s not just part of
a big pile of paper.
If you’re not sure about
writing a submission all by yourself, get together with some friends and write one
together. (Remember to put all of your names on it). Send your submission to:
Royal Commission of Inquiry into
Genetic Modification
P.O. Box 3554
Wellington
New Zealand
Or fax it on: 04 4959 153
Or email it to: info@gmcommission.govt.nz
Before 1 December 2000
Not sure what to write
about? … What Some People Say About GE
Feelings and beliefs
- "Humans are the cleverest animal, so they should be allowed to change other animals
and plants"
- "My religion says that everything was made perfectly, so we shouldn’t use GE
to change things"
- "Putting animal genes onto vegetables is wrong"
- "Breeding GE animals to make human body parts is wrong. It’s mean"
- "GE will change living things’ whakapapa. Will it also change their spirits,
or their feelings?"
Animals and the environment
- "When bees spread GE-pollen to other plants, it changes those plants’ genes
too. So soon we’ll have no GE-free plants at all"
- "GE could make wonderful new animals and plants"
- "GE could make our native species extinct "
- "They can make GE plants that are poisonous to insects, so we won’t have to
worry about caterpillars eating our vegies any more"
- "GE plants that kill bad insects will kill good insects too"
- "Even after GE plants are pulled out of the ground, the soil is still
contaminated"
- "If my dog eats a bug that’s eaten a GE plant, will my dog die?"
- "GE can make new plants that will be able to live in different climates"
- "GE would ruin N.Z.’s ‘clean green’ image"
- "Rain will wash tiny GE organisms from land into rivers. Will it do anything to the
fish?’
Food
- "GE food will be bigger and yummier"
- "I’m vegetarian. I don’t want to eat vegies with animal genes in
them"
- "With GE, there will be plenty of food to feed all the starving people"
- "If N.Z. grows GE food, the pollen will be spread to other plants by wind and
insects, so we won’t have organic food any more"
- "I’m very allergic to nuts. Will I die if I eat GE food with nut-genes in
it?"
Human health
- "GE medicines will be able to cure lots of diseases"
- "GE foods and medicines might have dangerous side effects, or they might react with
other medicines"
- "GE might accidentally make new diseases and germs. Or it might make us catch
diseases from other species"
- "People already use GE insulin and vaccinations, and they like it"
- "GE medicine would be good, but only rich people would be able to afford it"
- "I like using homeopathic medicines, but if we have GE in our environment it will
change the mauri of the herbs, so there will be no more homeopathics"
- "Having GE vitamins put into foods would be good, but would I get sick if I ate too
much vitamin-enhanced food?"
- "If I am around GE organisms, it might not effect me straight away, But if I have
children and grandchildren, their genes might be effected by it"
Science
- "Scientists don’t know enough about genes yet. They should do more research
before they try to sell us GE organisms"
- "How will using GE effect my body?"
- "GE is just like other types of breeding, but instead of crossing a labrador with a
poodle, we can now cross it with a potato"
- "I’m a scientist and I think GE is too dangerous"
- "I’m a scientist and I think GE is wonderful"
- "We’ve grown some GE flowers in a laboratory, but they might turn out
differently outside because of the environmental factors"
Money
- "New Zealand will miss out on making money if they don’t use GE"
- "The companies who own the GE seeds and genetic information will get rich, but GE
won’t really help anyone else" - - "Who should pay for GE research?"
- "The GE companies pay scientists and the media to say that GE is good"
- "With GE we will make cheaper foods and medicines"
- "Even if they have lots of money, the GE companies won’t be able to fix GE
mistakes that hurt people or animals, or our environment"
- "I used to save seeds each season so I could plant them the next year, but my boss
wants me to grow crops from sterile GE seeds. I’m only a poor farmer and I can’t
afford to but new seeds each year"
- "If N.Z. stays GE-free, we can make lots of money selling organic food
overseas"
Laws and rules
- "Lots of tests should be done on all GE organisms to make sure they’re
safe"
- "The people who make money from GE should have to fix any mistakes they make"
- "If companies want to sell foods with GE ingredients, they must label them so we
know exactly what is in them"
- "If N.Z. is going to be totally GE-free, quarantine staff will have to search
everyone who arrives at our airports to make sure they don’t have any GE organisms
with them"
- "GE medicines have to be labelled so doctors can warn their patients about possible
risks"
- "The Treaty of Waitangi says that N.Z. has to look after Maori traditions –
like having a GE-free environment"
How Can I Find Out More?
There are lots of books, magazines,
videos, and websites about GE. Look up ‘genetic engineering’, ‘genetic
modification’ or some of the other underlined words from this booklet.
There are also public meetings
about GE that are advertised in newspapers, and on notice boards, so keep a look out for
these.
Here are a few things to get you
started:
Books
*Eating Safely in a Toxic World by Sue Kedgley (Published in 1998 by Penguin, N.Z.)
*Genetic Engineering by Jenny Bryan (Published in 1995 by Wayland, England)
*Genetic Engineering, Food and the Environment by Luke Anderson (Published in 1999 by
Chelsea Green, USA)
*GM Foods – the Facts and the Fiction by Maria Elena Hurtado (Published in 2000 by
Consumers International, U.K.)
*Moral Dilemmas – Genetic Engineering by Sally Morgan (Published in 1998 by Evans
Brothers, London)
Magazines
Growing Today
Healthy Options
Investigate
New Zealand Listener
Soil and Health
The Ecologist
The New Zealand Vegetarian
And have a look in newspapers too.
People and groups
*Amp, P.O. Box 10 802, The Terrace, Wellington, NZ; www.ampwellington.net.nz
*ERMA New Zealand, P.O. Box 131 Wellington, NZ; www.ermanz.govt.nz
*Forest and Bird. PO Box 631, Wellington. Email office@wn.forest-bird.org.nz Website www.forest-bird.org.nz
*GE Free Communities, P.O. Box 300 094, Albany, Auckland, NZ
*Royal Commission on Genetic Modification, P.O. Box 3554, The Terrace, Wellington, NZ; www.gmcommission.govt.nz
*Safe Food Campaign, P.O. Box 9206, Wellington, NZ (Phone 04 4768607)
*The Green Party, P.O. Box 11 652, Wellington, NZ; www.greens.org.nz
G.E.C.K.O. Email: happygecko@paradise.net.nz
|
