Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
A change of name and no change in objectives
PRESS RELEASE
EMBARGO until 1 June
2008
Physicians and Scientists for Global
Responsibility
A change of name and no change in objectives
Physicians and Scientists for Global
Responsibility is the new name. The
objectives are the
same.
"The public's demand for information on genetic
engineering and other
matters of science will continue to
be our priority," says Jean Anderson, a
Co-ordinator for
the organization formerly known as Physicians
and
Scientists for Responsible Genetics (PSRG). "Using
our new name -
Physicians and Scientists for Global
Responsibility (PSGR) - we will
continue to meet the
public's right to be independently informed on
relevant
matters of science and technology. And our new
name will allow us to expand
our areas of
interests.
"The public's call for information on
genetic engineering is as great as
ever. People tell us
they do not want it in their food or in their
environment
and we get daily requests for information. Our new name
will
not change our objectives or limit the work we
do.
"We are also increasingly being asked for
information about the emerging
fields of synthetic
biology and nanotechnology.
"Synthetic biology is the
proposed design and construction of artificial
life forms
that do not exist in nature. Many scientists see it as a
broad
redefinition and expansion of biotechnology that
can be distinguished from
current genetic engineering
because of its emphasis on designing
foundation
technologies that take the engineering of
biology further.
"Nanotechnology is working with extremely
minute particles measuring only
100 nanometres or less.
It is understandably difficult for people to
envisage
just what one nanometre measures: one-billionth of a metre.
That'
s on the scale of atoms and molecules," Jean
Anderson continues.
"Nanoparticles have the potential to
pass through skin into the bloodstream,
enter individual
cells, and pass through the blood-brain barrier and
into
the placenta. Regulation and safety testing are
almost globally
non-existent, yet these particles are
being used in the manufacture of a
wide range of items,
including foods.
"Naturally, the public want to know more
about these new areas of scientific
development. As
PSGR, we will be focussed on meeting that expanded
need."
Ends
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