Science in Society Archive

Scientific Papers (Biotechnology)

Scientific Papers on Biotechnology from the Science in Society archive. For articles in other categories, please see the SiS archive menu.

ISIS scientific publication November 2013
The New Genetics and Natural versus Artificial Genetic Modification
ISIS 4th November 2013

Development and Evolution Revisited
Mae-Wan Ho reviews recent evidence in support of the idea that evolutionary novelties arise from non-random developmental changes defined by the dynamics of the epigenetic system; and shows how the organism participates in shaping its own development and future evolution
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 11th March 2009

Reply to "Use of genetically modified microbes for human health"
Gregor Reid et al. commented on our article, “Genetically modified probiotics should be banned”, and promoted the use of genetically modified microbes for human health, which we shall address
Prof. Joe Cummins and Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 1st July 2006

Genetically Modified Probiotics Should Be Banned
Beneficial bacteria living in the human gut are now subject to extensive genetic modification that could turn them into pathogens. In view of our vast ignorance of gut ecology, we cannot allow genetically modified probiotic bactena to be used
Prof. Joe Cummins and Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 1st July 2005

CaMV 35S promoter fragmentation hotspot confirmed, and it is active in animals
We would like to address the suggestion of Matzke et al 1 and others that pararetroviral promoters such as the CaMV 35S are not exotic to plant genomes as they already contain many integrated pararetroviral sequences
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho, Angela Ryan and Prof. Joe Cummins 15th May 2001

Hazards of Transgenic Plants Containing the Cauliflower Mosaic Viral Promoter
Authors’ reply to critiques of The Cauliflower Mosaic Viral Promoter – a Recipe for Disaster?
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho, Angela Ryan, Prof. Prof. Joe Cummins 2nd May 2000

CaMV Promoter is A Recombination Hotspot - No Transgenic Plant Containing CaMV Promoter Should be Released
A recent study of transgenic rice carried out at the John Innes Institute supports previous evidence that there is a recombination hotspot in the CaMV 35S promoter.
Angela Ryan

Cauliflower Mosaic Viral Promoter - A Recipe for Disaster?
Concerns have been raised over the spread of transgenic DNA by horizontal gene transfer. One main factor determining the success of horizontal gene transfer is its tendency to recombine. This paper examines the safety implication of recent revelations on the recombination hotspot of the cauliflower mosaic viral CaMV promoter, which is in practically all current transgenic crops released commercially or undergoing field trials.
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho, Angela Ryan, and Prof. Joe Cummins

Hazards of CaMV Promoter
This is a rebuttal to an article in Nature Biotechnology Jan. 2000 attacking an earlier article, now published Ho, M.W., Ryan, A., Cummins, J. 1999 The cauliflower mosaic viral promoter - a recipe for disaster?
Prof. Joe Cummins, Dr. Mae-Wan Ho and Angela Ryan