I would like to support the very important comments from Dr. Friedman. As per the perception that genome editing tools should under no circumstances be released, I politely invite our group to read again the fundamental book "The Dynamic Genome: Barbara McClintock's ideas in the century of Genetics (Edited by Nina Fedoroff and Gavid Botstein, CHSL Press, 1992), particularly the chapter on Transposition. Evolution evolved without politically stringent risk assessments, and still does. Good reason for modern society to practice a healthy equilibrium between Science and Politics.
Dr. Perls remind us of a very crucial issue, those of replacement of farmers, and I am convinced that not only CBD, but several other international agencies are taking this issue in very serious consideration.
Since the Industrial Revolution I, or perhaps since the Neolithic, the processes automation observed as cultural coevolution have obliged society to face the options available to deal with events like replacement of farmers. The sugarcane harvesting mechanization in Brazil, a very important decision when considering the negative impacts of straw burning (to facilitate the life of the poor harvesters) on Climate, since adopted, presented to the regulatory agencies with the problem of replacement of workers.
How to balance solutions is our mandate, ever. To exclude the impressive Synthetic Biology (with Artificial Biology & Artificial Intelligence in the near future ) coevolution from our future is not an option.
Wish you all the best,
Joaquim A. Machado
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posted on 2015-06-03 22:40 UTC by Mr. Joaquim A. Machado, Brazil
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