 |
 |
BBC News: Saturday, 19 May, 2001, 16:27 GMT 17:27 UK Schroeder defends gene research The German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, has intervened in an emotive national debate about genetic engineering, describing it as a key industry for the future. The day before, President Johannes Rau warned of the risks of biotechnology, which he said risked provoking memories of Nazi mass murder and medical experiments. Mr Schroeder noted that German industry was already a leader in biotechnology, and said it would help to secure future prosperity. The BBC's Frankfurt correspondent, Patrick Bartlett, says his comments, in an interview with the news magazine Der Spiegel, are bound to intensify the debate in Germany about the morality of genetic engineering. Germany currently bans the use of human embryos, while the UK recently legislated to allow embryonic tissue to be used in stem cell research. Without biotechnology, Mr Schroeder said, "we will hardly be able to secure our prosperity for our children and grandchildren". Moral limits He acknowledged that there were moral boundaries to such research, but said creating jobs was also a moral obligation. "There are definite limits to the future use and application of genetic engineering: Human dignity cannot be tampered with," he said. He insisted that Germany's ban on embryo research should not be amended. "But ... we are also morally bound to keep in mind people with severe illnesses who can be helped through genetically manufactured treatments," Mr Schroeder said. "And beyond that, it is also part of our moral responsibility to keep in mind jobs and prosperity." Employment in Germany's biotechnology sector has grown by 30% in the past year, albeit from a low base. Scientists argue that research with human stem cells could help the treatment of killer diseases such as leukaemia and Parkinson's disease. http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_1339000/1339883.stm *********** ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn