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The Royal Commission on Genetic Modification - submissionsNational Testing CentreSTRATEGIC OPTIONS — SECTION A(1), B(j), B(i),B(m),Submission The National Testing Centre (NTC) submitted that the New Zealand public are legitimately interested in GM technology as it relates to human health. Unfortunately, the public in New Zealanders and others are often ignorant of the facts of human biology and genetics that would enable them to form thoughtful opinions about GM. For example a survey in Time magazine (August 7, 2000) quoted that 35% of Europeans polled agreed with the statement: "Ordinary tomatoes do not contain genes, while GM tomatoes do". They then submitted that New Zealand is a small country and that our health professional are a part of a global community. New Zealand must learn from other places and share our own experiences. The NTC noted that New Zealand has a particularly good reputation in some areas of metabolic disease screening. It would not help this reputation if treatments that are accepted everywhere else are banned here. In the opinion of the NTC the prudent option that allows for sensible choice is to accept GM therapies as they become available with the appropriate safeguards. RISKS & BENEFITS — SECTIONS A(1), B(a), B(b)Submission The NTC observed that it screens newborn babies for metabolic diseases. At present, infants are screened for phenylketonuria, maple syrup urine disease, congenital hypothyroidism, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, biotinidase deficiency, galactosemia and cystic fibrosis. Treatment is currently available for these disorders, and it is not considered useful to screen for disorders for which there is no treatment available (WHO criteria). GM products are also used in testing patients with symptoms of metabolic disorders. New technology is becoming available for the screening of additional disorders (approximately 20) through tandem mass spectrometry. Treatments for many of these conditions is currently under development and for many this involves the use of GM products such as enzymes, In the future gene therapy may be used. In the NTC’s opinion it is certain that as time goes on more treatments involving GM technology will become available. The future use of GM products in the diagnosis and treatment of inherited diseases is potentially as great as the number of metabolic disorders. Some of these treatments will offer the only hope for people suffering from some of these condition. |