The genetic manipulation of plants, animals and microbes : the social and ethical issues for consumers : a discussion paper / by Roger Straughan.

  • Roger Straughan
Date:
1989
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Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: The genetic manipulation of plants, animals and microbes : the social and ethical issues for consumers : a discussion paper / by Roger Straughan. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    similarly used to promote rapid growth in pigs and to lower tlie fat content of pork (6). (h) Animal health Genetically engineered vaccines are being developed to protect cattle and pigs against a variety of serious diseases, some of which it is t)elieved may have been spread in the past by defective vaccines (7). It is also hoped that poultry diseases may be tackled by inserting resistant genetic material Into chicken chromosomes (8). (i) Food storage Genetic manipulation can help to overcome the problem of goods losing nutritional value during storage. Nutritional value can be retained and improved (9) and food quality may t)e monitored more easily in the future (10). The above list is merely a brief indication of some of the ways in which genetic manipulation is capable of affecting agriculture and food production. Many other techniques and applications have already been developed, while many more are still at the research stage (11). These examples, however, are sufficient to give an idea of the impact which genetic manipulation is likely to have in the near future and of the potential benefits which could result. These benefits are of obvious interest to consumers t>ecause It is claimed that they will lead to the development of food products with improved nutritional value, better quality, and improved safety, taste and convenience (12). The same writers make the following points about consumer interests; The consumer is more concerned about these Issues [quoted above] today than ever. Consumer surveys show the public willing to pay more for what It perceives to be a better and more convenient product; It will reject products that do not meet its e)q:>ectations. Biotechnology research offers a major opportunity to tailor food products to public demands. Existing crop and animal products can be modified through genetic engineering; new crops and new products can be developed (13). These writers are commenting on the North American consumer scene, but their judgments can be applied equally to the UK. Clearly genetic manipulation offers 10