Sir, - In reference to Aine de Paor's article on genetic engineering and gender (June 6th) as a researcher into attitudes and perceptions of genetic engineering and biotechnology and resulting policy, I found the article slipshod, shoddy, misleading and quite simply not true to fact. I was surprised and disappointed, as usually Aine de Paor's pieces are of a high quality and are very informative. Unfortunately, this one seems poorly researched and rapidly compiled.
As a scientist, I have many concerns about biotechnology and genetic engineering and the resulting effects of the technology. My main concern is about the lack of public debate on the issue. Aine de Paor erroneously claims there are gender divisions emerging on the debate. She investigates the "scientific world," where she claims to have found such divisions. However, the "scientific world" has many outspoken supporters of biotechnology. Here in Ireland, one of our own eminent Irish microbiologists, Dr Catherine Adley, of the University of Limerick, last November held the first public debate on genetically modified foods, in that University. Incidentally, she spoke in favour of this "life altering technology".
Again, in the scientific world, a recent survey of Irish science teachers at the ISTA AGM last March revealed that 55 per cent of females questioned, as opposed to only 27 per cent of male science teachers, agreed with the plant trials of genetically engineered sugar beet in Ireland. Eighteen per cent of males, compared to 20 per cent of females opposed such field trials. While 55 per cent of males and only 25 per cent of females said they didn't know.
Mary Banotti MEP recently stated that she had many considerations to take into account when voting in the recent EU directive on bio-patenting. One of these was the fact that she herself, as a diabetic, has been a beneficiary of a biotechnological product - recombinant insulin. It has been genetically engineered, using the human gene for insulin, which has been inserted into a micro-organism (bacteria E.coli K-12 or yeast). This product is patented.
If Aine de Paor's hypothesis of gender divisions held true, the Swiss public in the recent referendum in Switzerland last weekend would not have rejected the proposal to ban the production and patenting of genetically modified plants and animals, by a massive majority of two to one. Not one of the country's 26 cantons (political areas) voted in favour of the ban.
The 1993 Euro-barometer survey of over 12,800 people throughout Europe again failed to uphold such gender division as proposed in the article. It did, however, show conclusively that regardless of the "new technology" in question (ranging from solar energy to telecommunications), means of support levels are higher among men than women. Men also showed greater "global optimism" for such new technologies and are more likely to express themselves on the issue. It was also found that "objective" knowledge of biotechnology genetic engineering ("elementary" as well as "thorough" knowledge) is higher among men than women.
As a scientist, and a genetically determined male one at that, I find Dr Ho's comments in the article ("Men find holistic ideas too difficult because they can't pigeon-hole things, which is what they are used to doing. It is a patriarch thing, they like to have very clear rules. Whereas women are much more able to cope with the blurring of boundaries.") frankly offensive and sexist. I guarantee if I were to make off-the cuff comments on the same lines towards women, it wouldn't be long before I was corrected and criticised, and rightly so.
Yes, let's have factual debate on this issue of biotechnology. Scientists have a responsibility to enter the debate and make the facts known to the public. However, I add a note of caution; treating the issue, as Aine de Paor did with an unfounded gender slant, is irresponsible and unhelpful. Rather than writing on a question of perspective, writing on a question of fact would be much more beneficial to all. - Yours, etc., Shane Morris,
Post-Graduate Researcher,
University of Limerick, Limerick.