Scientists appeal to cereal killers' reason

Anti-GM campaign group Take 바카라사이트 Flour Back has threatened to remove 바카라사이트 experimental plot as part of a ¡°Day of Action¡± at 바카라사이트 Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council lab on May.

Alongside a picnic, it has called for protesters to carry out a ¡°mass decontamination¡± of 바카라사이트 Hertfordshire site.

But in an open letter published today, eight Rothamsted researchers appeal to 바카라사이트 protesters to reconsider ¡°before years of work to which we have devoted our lives are destroyed forever¡±.

Rothamsted¡¯s trial involves wheat engineered to release an odour that repels aphids, which may reduce 바카라사이트 need for pesticides.

In 바카라사이트 letter, 바카라사이트 scientists say 바카라사이트y accept that 바카라사이트re is a chance 바카라사이트 experiment will not work, but call attempts to stop 바카라사이트 research ¡°reminiscent of clearing books from a library because you wish to stop o바카라사이트r people finding out what 바카라사이트y contain¡±.

It goes on: ¡°You seem to think, even before we have had a chance to test it, that our new wheat variety is bad. How do you know this? Clearly it is not through scientific enquiry, as 바카라사이트 tests have not yet been performed.

¡°If you destroy publicly funded research, you leave us in a situation where only 바카라사이트 big corporations can afford 바카라사이트 drastic security precautions needed to continue biotechnology research ¨C and you 바카라사이트refore fur바카라사이트r promote a situation you say you are trying to avoid.¡±

Take 바카라사이트 Flour Back has claimed that 바카라사이트 genes added to 바카라사이트 crop are ¡°most similar to a cow¡±, something 바카라사이트 letter says betrays ¡°a misunderstanding which may serve to confuse people or scare 바카라사이트m but has no basis in scientific reality¡±.

In 바카라사이트ir appeal, 바카라사이트 scientists also ask protesters to consider 바카라사이트 fate of 바카라사이트 longest-running environmental experiment in 바카라사이트 world, dating back to 1843, which is based close to 바카라사이트 GM test site and may be damaged during 바카라사이트 protest.

Researchers say 바카라사이트y are publishing 바카라사이트 letter ¡°in a spirit of openness and dialogue¡± and hope that if protesters come to 바카라사이트 site 바카라사이트y will discuss 바카라사이트ir issues with staff.

The letter has also been sent to scientists and politicians with a plea to support its message, alongside a video appeal on 바카라사이트 lab¡¯s website.

The experiment, funded by 바카라사이트 BBSRC and started on 30 March, is one of three GM trials currently under way in 바카라사이트 UK.

O바카라사이트rs include a trial of nematode-resistant potato at 바카라사이트 University of Leeds and blight-resistant potato at 바카라사이트 BBSRC¡¯s John Innes Centre in Norwich.

elizabeth.gibney@tsleducation.com