What can a university do when it plunges into agricultural biotechnology research in a big way—but doesn’t want the public to fear the field-testing of experimental products? Iowa State trotted out the genetics primer. This summer, the university devoted its annual teacher education program to genetic engineering, bringing high school teachers up to date on biotechnology and helping them design lesson plans for their students. Over the long run, the program “can increase knowledge of biotechnology, so that when genetically engineered plants are tested, or growth hormone is introduced, they will not be met with resistance,” explains Steven Price, biotechnology industrial liaison at Iowa State. The state’s agricultural future depends on biotechnology, adds Price, and the university has a responsibilitiy to educate the public.
The Public’s Right To Know
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