1) Companies plan to clone cows producing human milk by Andrew Gach <UncleWolf@worldnet.att.net> 2) Putting it into small print by Andrew Gach <UncleWolf@worldnet.att.net> 3) Happy chickens lay better eggs by Andrew Gach <UncleWolf@worldnet.att.net> 4) (MO) Letter on "merits" of bullfighting by Vadivu Govind <kuma@cyberway.com.sg> 5) [UK/US] Skin is grown from human cells by David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> 6) US split on tackling global warming by David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> 7) [UK/US] 'Dogs told me to take money to ThrustSSC' by David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> 8) Subscription Options--Admin Note by Allen Schubert <ar-admin@envirolink.org> 9) (KR/US) U.S. Team Shortens Visit to S.Korea on E.coli by allen schubert <alathome@clark.net> 10) (US) Attempt To Ban Pigeon Shoots by allen schubert <alathome@clark.net> 11) (US) Mink Farm Still Rounding Up Mink by allen schubert <alathome@clark.net> 12) (US) Lawmakers Learn About University's Hog Odor Research by allen schubert <alathome@clark.net> 13) Pigeon bill, Dawn Ratcliffe and support demo update by Heidi Prescott <hprescott@fund.org> 14) GRAY WHALES need your help by bailey2@ix.netcom.com 15) Transgenic cows to produce the human protein in its blood or milk. Got Milk? by LGrayson <lgrayson@earthlink.net> 16) (US) Okla. Wildlife Dept. Anti-AR Policy by JanaWilson@aol.com 17) (US) USDA Wants More Authority on Food by allen schubert <alathome@clark.net> 18) Re: (US) Okla. Wildlife Dept. Anti-AR Policy by Peter Muller <Peter.Muller@worldnet.att.net> 19) Admin Note--was: Re: (US) Okla. Wildlife Dept. Anti-AR Policy by allen schubert <alathome@clark.net>
Date: Tue, 07 Oct 1997 22:16:22 -0700
From: Andrew Gach <UncleWolf@worldnet.att.net>
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Companies plan to clone cows producing human milk
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Companies team up to make cloned cattle, human milk
1997 Reuters
BOSTON (October 7, 1997 9:16 p.m. EDT http://www.nando.net) - Two U.S.
companies said on Tuesday they had joined forces to make cloned cattle
that would in turn produce milk containing human proteins.
Genzyme Transgenics Corp. of Framingham, Massachusetts, and Worcester,
Massachusetts-based Advanced Cell Technology Inc. said they would
combine both genetic engineering and cloning to create a herd of cattle
genetically identical to one another, and carrying human genes.
Genzyme said it would pay Advanced Cell Technology $10 million over five
years in the deal, which combines Genzyme's ability to create
transgenic, or genetically engineered, animals wth Advanced Cell's
techniques for producing cloned cattle embryos.
The companies are using similar technology to that being developed by
Scotland-based PPL Therapeutics and the Roslin Institute to make Dolly,
the cloned sheep whose birth was announced earlier this year.
The idea at both laboratories is to first create an animal that is
successfully transgenic -- one that contains the human gene and in which
the gene causes the animal to produce the human protein in its
blood or milk.
Genetic engineering does not always work. The gene is put into an egg
cell or newly fertilized cell, called a blastocyst.
Sometimes the inserted genes do not "take," so the researchers are keen
to develop the few successful ones. So they want to clone the successful
animal to make several others just like it and eventually a herd.
Advanced Cell Technology's cloning technology involves clones made at
the embryo stage -- not clones made from adult cell, like Dolly was.
Using embryos to make clones is easier.
The company inserts the genes into the embryo cells, then implants the
embryos into surrogate mothers.
All of the embryos transferred into the surrogate mothers are female,
and therefore are milk producers.
Genzyme Transgenics said the first protein to be produced in the cow
milk under the agreement would be human serum albumin, which is used to
maintain fluid balance in the blood.
The protein will then be purified out of the milk for medical use.
Human serum albumin is currently derived from pooled human plasma. About
440 metric tonnes of plasma-derived albumin are used annually worldwide,
with annual sales of about $1.5 billion.
Serum albumin is given to patients who have lost a great deal of blood
and is used widely in a range of other problems from extreme
malnutrition to burns.
Date: Tue, 07 Oct 1997 22:21:49 -0700
From: Andrew Gach <UncleWolf@worldnet.att.net>
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Putting it into small print
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Meat industry pushes irradiation
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (October 7, 1997 4:52 p.m. EDT http://www.nando.net) -- As
the Clinton administration pushes for mandatory recalls and tougher
penalties in contaminated meat cases, the industry is promoting an
alternative that kills dangerous bacteria: irradiation.
Fearing the economic fallout of more highly publicized recalls, the meat
industry is trying to persuade the Food and Drug Administration to
approve irradiation for beef and is lobbying Congress to allow smaller,
less ominous irradiation labels for all foods.
"We need to make this food safety tool available for the public," said
Rhona Applebaum, executive vice president for scientific and regulatory
affairs at the National Food Processors Association.
Irradiation -- exposing food to low levels of radiation -- is already
permitted for poultry, pork, fruits and vegetables, but is not in
widespread use for several reasons: consumer wariness, expense and
opposition by consumer groups that question its safety.
This summer's recall of 25 million pounds of Hudson Foods Inc. ground
beef has focused new attention on meat safety and how to guard against
illnesses caused by such foodborne bacteria as E. coli and salmonella.
Tainted meat was in the news again last week with the recall of nearly
444,000 pounds of ground beef processed at a Nebraska plant and South
Korea's detection of E. coli on beef supplied by another Nebraska
meatpacker.
The Senate Agriculture Committee has scheduled a hearing Wednesday to
discuss food safety and the potential of new technology such as
irradiation.
Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman wants Congress to grant him authority
to issue mandatory recalls instead of using persuasion and public
pressure to get companies to do recalls voluntarily, as is now the case.
Glickman wants authority to seek civil penalties of up to $100,000 per
violation per day and a requirement that anyone in the food supply chain
from slaughterhouse to restaurant notify USDA if there is any evidence
of contamination.
In introducing the administration's bill Tuesday, Sen. Tom Harkin,
D-Iowa, said the current system does not give people "total assurance"
that the meat they eat is safe.
"These are vital tools the secretary just doesn't have today," Harkin
said.
Consumer advocates say mandatory recall and tougher penalties will give
companies greater incentives to adhere to food safety rules and not
cover up mistakes.
"Human lives shouldn't depend on a secretary's charm or force of
personality," said Carol Tucker Foreman of the Safe Food Coalition.
The food processing industry, however, contends that USDA can already
effectively force companies to issue recalls by using public pressure
and can close down plants by pulling its inspectors from production
lines. Criminal charges can be brought and contaminated products can
be seized.
"The punitive measures sought by USDA will do nothing to enhance the
safety of the meat supply or prevent future foodborne illness
outbreaks," said J. Patrick Boyle, president of the American Meat
Institute.
The institute and other industry groups say new technology such as
irradiation offers consumers even greater protection from harmful
microbes. The industry has already cleared some congressional hurdles
toward using the process in beef production and possibly increasing its
use in poultry, fruit and other products.
The FDA overhaul bill passed Tuesday by the House -- and a similar
version passed previously by the Senate -- would allow companies to use
labels on irradiated products that are no larger than those used for
ingredients. Current law mandates that the word "irradiation" be much
larger, which food manufacturers say is a customer turnoff.
"It takes it from being what looks like a warning label to something not
as scary-looking," Tim Willard, spokesman for the Food Processors
Association, said of the bill.
In addition, the House version would require the FDA to act within 60
days on a petition allowing irradiation for red meat that has been
pending for three years. FDA officials already say the petition
>From The Electronic Telegraph - Wednesday, October 8th, 1997
US split on tackling global warming
By Hugo Gurdon in Washington
THE American government has emerged more divided than ever from a global warming conference intended to help resolve its differences over how to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Vice-President Gore has caused outrage by pushing American-financed abortion and contraception in the Third
World as a key to slowing climate change. President Clinton is
struggling to balance his desire for America to take a lead on the issue against the fear that big emission reductions would slow
economic growth.
And the Republican-controlled Congress is increasingly angry about the probable inclusion of an energy tax in his
plans. America produces more than a fifth of the world's greenhouse gases
and both the European Union and Third World are demanding that
the biggest polluter reform itself.
But the EU demand for greenhouse gas cuts to 15 per cent
below 1990 levels is seen as a sneak attack on the American
economy. It is far easier for Europe to meet the targets because its
economies have hardly grown in the 1990s, whereas America is in the
fifth year of a massive boom which has sharply increased energy
use.
Mr Clinton told the conference at Georgetown University,
attended by scientists, environmentalists and business executives,
that he wanted a global treaty to emerge from the Kyoto summit on
climate change in December, but targets had to be realistic. He
faces a huge and controversial lobbying effort at home.
The White House keeps delaying a decision on what policy or negotiating position it will take to Kyoto because Mr
Clinton's aides are split.
⌐ Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1997.
Date: Wed, 08 Oct 1997 01:43:09
From: David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com>
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [UK/US] 'Dogs told me to take money to ThrustSSC'
