May 4/00 / Reuters / By Julie Vorman
WASHINGTON - William Brown, a science adviser to U.S. Interior Secretary
Bruce Babbitt was cited as telling the same U.S. National Academy of
Sciences committee studying biotech food and environmental issues that U.S.
animals and wildlife could be threatened by transgenic fish and plants being
developed in laboratories unless the federal government provides safeguards,
and that the department was concerned that some new genetically altered
organisms could inadvertently harm the environment, much like invasive
plants, adding, "Maybe the situation can be managed just fine. But I'm
worried that some of these species are falling between the cracks of current
regulations."
He was cited as urging the committee to take a close look at how federal
safeguards can be developed for organisms that might be a new
threat to endangered species.
The new National Academy of Sciences panel, made up of 18 physicians,
academics, researchers and consumer experts, held its first meeting on
Thursday to begin mapping the key scientific issues that need to be
analyzed.
(posted without permission)
