lew@ihuxr.UUCP (Lew Mammel, Jr.) (04/13/84)
ABC's NIGHTLINE was about genetic engineering last night (4/12). They had Jeremy Rifkin on opposite David A---- (Can't remember). Rifkin is the infamous author of ENTROPY and other books. He was the subject of a recent SKEPTICAL OBSERVER (or whatever) column in DISCOVER magazine, which raised doubts about his motivation and qualification for involvement in genetic engineering issues. The other guy was the chairman of the board of one of the new genetic engineering companies. Guess who came out looking like the flaming asshole? Not Rifkin. Rifkin was cool, calm, and reasonable. The geneticist launched right into a big diatribe about "fear-mongering" and so on. He talked about how Rifkin had "hijacked the issue" (of public policy on release of recombinant organisms). The problem is that most people watching the show probably didn't know anything at all about Rifkin's reputation as a fringe lunatic, so the geneticist looked like he was fighting phantoms. I was actually surprised at Rifkin's good showing. In fact, I think I might even agree with him to a large extent. He is leading a law suit to prevent the release of some anti-frost recombinant bacteria. I'm not afraid of these particular bugs, but Rifkin's argument was that the necessary protocols for this type of action were not in place, and the release should be held up until they are. Otherwise their regulatory authority will be presented with a fait accompli. I also agree with Rifkin that the issue of recombinant human DNA is going to come up very quickly. The geneticist just scoffed at this. To me, this shows incredible myopia. They already made that giant mouse, which a year or so before would have been considered way out. Personally, I'm very excited about all the possibilities, and I'm anxious to see rapid progress, which we are already seeing, of course. Guys like the one opposing Rifkin are just going to create a backlash, though. Incidentally, Ted Koppel wasn't on, and his replacement had his hands full with Rifkin and his opponent. He was apparently among those ignorant of Rifkin's background (he introduced him as Jeffrey Rifkin) and seemed unprepared for the geneticist's seemingly unprovoked attack. Lew Mammel, Jr. ihnp4!ihuxr!lew
emigh@ecsvax.UUCP (04/18/84)
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Just today I received a flyer announcing Jeremy Rifkin's newest book:
'Algeny, A New Word--A New World'. The announcement states, in part,
'...Jeremy Rifkin warns of the clear dangers inherent in the new science of
genetic engineering. For the first time in history humanity is able to
convert living material into new shapes and forms, to redesign life. As we
inexorably shed the Darwinian concept of nature, which legitimized five
generations of industrial society, a new world view is emerging for the
coming biotechnological society--with cybernetics as the organizing
framework, computers as the organizing mechanism, and living tissue as
the organizing material.'
I have not seen the book, so I cannot review it. I noticed that the
reviewers mentioned in the flyer include a US Senator; a psychologist;
a professor of Government; a Bishop; two professors of History; and a
sociologist/anthropologist.
By the way, it is published by Penguin, $6.95, 298 pp., 0-14-007106-7
--
Ted H. Emigh North Carolina State University Raleigh NC
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