February 4, 2000

Combating Pathological Opposition to Gene Splicing

By HENRY I. MILLER

Efforts by antitechnology extremists to stop the field testing and use of gene-spliced plants and other organisms are a serious threat to research. The extremists claim that gene splicing -- a technique that introduces genetic material from one organism into another -- produces organisms that could harm the environment or people who consume materials from the organisms. Scientists disagree.

Millions of consumers may not have the chance to benefit from the