Frontiers
Monday
Texas A&M researchers explain
ethics, future of human cloning
on<
By Jill Reed
Science writer
Recent success in cloning ani
mals has attracted scientific and
public attention, and some faculty
at Texas A&M University are looking
at the new ethical and regulatory as
pects of biotechnology.
Dr. Susanna Priest, the Interim
Director of the Center for Science
and Technology Policy and Ethics at
Texas A&M University, said that sci
entists must make up their own
minds about cloning at this stage be
cause there has not been time to cre
ate federal or institutional policies.
However, some policies do al
ready exist. “I think people have the
impression that scientists can do
whatever they want right now,”
Priest said, “and it is just not true.”
There is an institutional review
board at Texas A&M University,
Priest said, for any research that
uses animal or human subjects.
The research cannot be done if
the board finds any ethical prob
lems that cannot be resolved.
Priest said that cloning issues at
Texas A&M University are handled
using and modifying policies that
are already in place.
“I’m not sure that we will ever
reach the point where human
cloning is considered ethical,” Priest
said. “I see some difficult problems
that are going to be hard to solve.”
Dr. Herman Saatkamp, head of
the Department of Humanities in
Medicine at the Texas A&M Univer
sity Health Science Center, said that
cloning is valuable for medical and
agricultural research, but it will not
be considered ethical to clone hu
mans until it is at least as safe as a
normal, natural childbirth.
“People base their value judge
ments on what they understand
about the technology in question,”
Saatkamp said, “and today there is
very little known about the conse
quences of human cloning.
“Most ethical
disputes are
based on factual
disagreements
jj
Dr. Herman Saatkamp
Department of Humanities
Most ethical disputes are based
on factual disagreements.”
Dr. Mark Westhusin is a consul
tant to Ultimate Genetics, the com
pany that helped clone the cows
Charlie and George, and a re
searcher in the Reproductive Sci
ences Laboratory at the College of
Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M
University.
“There are some things that we
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don’t understand,” Westhusin said,
“and we would absolutely not want
to [clone] in humans until we were
absolutely positive that it would be
a safe procedure that would result
in normal offspring.”
Dr. Duane Kraemer, an Associate
Dean for Research at the College of
Veterinary Medicine, said that sci
entists are using animal models to
make the results of cloning more
predictable. As the technique be
comes safer, early embryo mortali
ty, late prenatal mortality and birth
defects will be reduced.
Kraemer said that the new
cloning technology could be valu
able if scientists ever decide to use
germ line gene transfer in humans.
It might be possible, Kraemer
said, to either introduce a gene or to
inactivate a defective gene in hu
mans to prevent the transmission of
a genetic condition.
The few embryos obtained that
are free of a genetic disorder could
be copied in large number to in
crease the odds that offspring retain
the corrected gene.
Some have voiced concerns that
the use of cloning could decrease
genetic diversity in animal popula
tions. Kraemer said "common sense
should be used when applying the
technology.”
When it is managed properly, it
does not necessarily reduce genetic
diversity,” Kraemer said, "and it can
preserve endangered species that
otherwise would not be preserved.”
Maroon carrots to be top sei
COLLEGE STATION (AP) —The Aggies have final
ly conquered the vegetable stand.
Maroon carrots developed by Texas A&M Univer
sity will be commercially sold for the first time this
week at select stores in Houston.
“The biggest problem will be having enough,” said
John Lackey, vice president of McManus Produce in
Weslaco. “We have a lot of demand, but it’s going to he
in short supply for the first few weeks of harvest.”
Lackey said his company, which grows the unique
carrot, has begun harvest on a small acreage hut will
grow enough to be harvested throughout year.
The carrots, called BetaSweets are being harvest
ed, sliced into coin shapes and packaged to Kroger’s
in Houston. Wal-Mart in Temple and H.E.B. grocery
stores will receive shipments in late February, Lack
ey said.
“And then we’ll build on it from there,” he said. ”1
know every one will want some.
The maroon carrot idea dates backtoii
Leonard Pike, a horticulturist and din
A&M University's Vegetable Improven
found some maroon-tinged carrotsinhisi
tal plots of regular orange carrots.
“ The original goal was to breed a
that would be a novelty in thehomegardf
Pike said. Te
white. “But
high beta <
cancer pre'
taSweet car
“It has e<
\&M’s school colors areu
nil changed as we began tel
one and anthocyaninstt
ve properties and arefo
eyond being a novelty,tf
hat, too,” hesaid.Thep:
ot already just goes to she
lion and presentationan
mers in vegetables."
1 M
New system for meat
inspection takes heat
WASHINGTON (AP) — The
government’s new system for pre
venting contamination in pro
cessing plants is known by the
acronym HACCR Some meat and
poultry inspectors sardonically
say that means: “Have A Cup of
Coffee and Pray.”
Actually, it means “Hazard
Analysis and Critical Control
Points,” a system beginning Mon
day for the 312 largest meat and
poultry processing plants that ac
count for 75 percent of livestock
slaughtered in the United States. It
will be phased in over two years in
the remaining 6,100 plants.
MSC Wiley Lecture Series
NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
Informational Meeting:
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Pick up applications at meeting or in Student
Programs Office, 2nd Floor MSC, rm. 216
Applications are due Tues., Jan. 27 by 5:00 pm
Interviews will be Jan. 28 and 29
Any questions? Call 845-1514
Howdy Class of ‘Ol
The 2001 Class Council has new positions
available for the spring semester:
Treasurer
Social Secretary
Special & Current Events Chair
Public Relations Chair
There will be an application and interview
process for selection. Applications will be
available Friday the 23rd of January.
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MSC and at the '01 table at Open House.
AmericanAirlines®
You are cordially invited to discuss career
opportunities at American Airlines
Employer Briefing/Reception
For Undergraduates
Date: Tuesday, Jan. 27, 1998
Location: 510 Rudder
Time: 7:00 - 8:15 p.m.
(refreshments will be provided)
Representatives from Airport Resources will be there to discuss challenging
Field Business Planning & Finance careers with Anerican Airlines
A drawing will be held for one free round trip ticket* on
American Airlines at the conclusion of the presentation!
’restrictions apply
“We definitely have our work
cut out for us, as there are many
disturbing pitfalls and apparent
weaknesses,” Randy Wurtele,
western president of the National
Joint Council of Food Inspection
Locals, said in a letter on the union
council’s Internet site.
Under the new regime, plants
install their own facilities preven
tive measures to reduce /:. coli and
salmonella bacteria and improve
sanitation. Agriculture Secretary
Dan Glickman said the system is a
“revolutionary improvement”
over the old approach’s reliance on
sight, touch and smell.
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Frontiers is a
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