Genetic Engineering Dangers

I want to thank The Scientist for reporting on my return of a $613,882 grant to the National Institutes of Health in the Dec. 12, 1994, issue (Notebook, page 4).

However, the story missed the real purpose for my action--to bring attention to the dangers of the environmental release of genetically altered organisms and of germ-line genetic manipulations in humans. I also announced that I was redirecting my own research to traditional medical systems, particularly Maharishi Ayur-Veda, a prevention-oriented, natural medical system that shows great potential.

Science should be guiding the implementation of genetic technologies. We should not allow economic and political pressures to capitalize on these technologies at the expense of health or the environment.

In many cases, knowledgeable scientists have been ignored when they have raised legitimate concerns. This was the case in December, when the United States Department of Agriculture ignored the warnings of many...