genetics

50 years since the double helix: Genetic Engineering is crude and old-fashioned

[img_assist|nid=170|title=|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=100|height=43]50 years ago the structure of DNA was determined 1 and hailed as the “secret of life”. The determination of the structure of DNA made it seem as if the complete understanding of living organisms was possible, even though fundamental questions regarding DNA function were unanswered, and remain so today. Later, in the 1970s and 1980s, the technology to insert genes at random into the genomes of organisms were developed and termed genetic engineering (GE).

April 2003

J. Cotter & A. Lorch, Greenpeace, April 2003.

HUGO und die Gene

[img_assist|nid=362|title=|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=100|height=43]Die so genannte "Entschlüsselung" des menschlichen Genoms regt seit Juni 2000 die Fantasie von Wissenschaft, Politik und Medien an: Die Rede ist von Parallelen zur ersten Mondlandung, von der bedeutendsten Leistung seit der Erfindung des Rades, von Gottes Handschrift, die nun lesbar sei. Doch bis heute wissen GenforscherInnen nicht, was ein Gen genau ist. Was wurde da der Öffentlichkeit überhaupt präsentiert?

September 2000

A. Lorch, BioSkop September 2000.

The Race for the Human Genome

[img_assist|nid=362|title=|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=100|height=43]With the sequencing of the entire human genome coming closer by the day, the implications resulting from the exploitation of this information are becoming clearer. Intellectual property claims play an important role in the race between private and public sequencing efforts. While pharmaceutical companies are eager to use the generated knowledge to optimize drug development strategies, these will most likely neglect the intrests of developing countries.

December 1999

V. Lehmann & A. Lorch, Biotechnology and Development Monitor December 1999.