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Biotech / Medical : Monsanto Co. -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Biotech Jim who wrote (1420)	3/1/1999 11:49:00 PM
From: Dan Spillane	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2539

They are worried about everything in the UK, and the tabloids capitalize on this. The rest of Europe doesn't seem to have a journalism industry as drastically diseased as the UK. By "Novo", do you mean Novartis? The official company line there would be criticism of Roundup, since they plan on introducing a competing product which doesn't happen to be out yet. I also know in a free market system, the most successful guy and his products are subject to the most scrutiny and criticism...issues must be put in context. I'm not sure I know enough about breakdown products of Roundup to comment on groundwater issues. However, I do know of other instances of herbicides leading to problems. And I think we do know enough to say that Roundup is relatively safe compared to similar products, and far safer than pesticides. Please don't drink Roundup, though -- I realize you and your Novo friend probably flinch when I say "completely biodegrable" since "complete" implies a level of absolutism. I should be more careful with semantics, since what I write is sometimes copied or quoted...even though I did qualify with "unlike some other products in this category."

To: Biotech Jim who wrote (1420)	3/2/1999 12:41:00 AM
From: Dan Spillane	Respond to of 2539

Jim, can you comment on the "genetic modification by irradiation of squash" issue I mentioned, since I noticed you have some interesting titles associated with your name? I seem to remember that certain traits were observed among the "wreckage" of the irradiation of many seeds. These traits were then hybridized with stronger, non-mutant varieties. In fact, it may be that some of these traits are present in vegetables we have been buying for years. Was it the yellow zucchini? Wouldn't this make an interesting discussion point...I mean, I know that all modern ag products are mutants which have been selected over and over, but for discussion we need to know about the irradiated squash and similar which may already be a component of our diet.