low-risk products of rDNA technology. In essence, it means abandoning the popular but
scientifically flawed approach of capturing only those products derived from the processes
of biotechnology. Such an approach does not necessarily mean an increase in overall regu-
latory burden, as the newly captured, more hazardous products are offset by the exemption
of less hazardous, currently captured products. Also, the elimination of excessive or redun-
dant assays beyond those necessary to reach a scientifically valid safety determination will
reduce the burden all around. If politicians and regulators adopt their own maxims, perhaps
we can enjoy some true protection from the dangerous things currently eroding our health
and planetary ecosystems.
LIFE BOX 12.1. ANTHONY SHELTONAnthony Shelton, Professor of Entomology, Cornell University/NYSAESTony Sheltontrying to catch up on email,
a never-ending job in academics.I took a circuitous route in my formal
studies as a scientist, but don’t regret
it. Although I was accepted into a
premed program, during my first week
on campus I transferred into the Great
Books of the Western World Program.
In this unique program we had no
formal lectures but rather a Socratic dia-
logue in all our classes. We only read
original works, no textbooks. People
interpreted the texts, argued their views
and came up with a better understanding
based on the discussion. Freshman year
we studied Euclid and the Greek classics
and worked our way up to Einstein and
Joyce in our senior year. After receiving
my B.A. in classics and philosophy, I
went into the biological sciences.
Entomology was particularly appealingsince it combined my love of ecology,
biology, food systems and the environ-
ment. Like many young people at the
time, I was tremendously influenced by
Rachel Carson’s seminal book,Silent
Spring. There had to be a way of produ-
cing our food and fiber in a more envir-
onmentally responsible manner, and the
idea of integrated pest management
(IPM) was becoming a buzz word.
IPM focused on understanding
insect–plant interactions within
the environment and using host plant
resistance and biological control as the
foundations for managing pests. Over
the years, this concept of IPM has
become the standard practice. However,
we never really had any food plants
that were strongly resistant to caterpillars
(Lepidoptera) or beetles (Coleoptera)
and in most agricultural systems biologi-
cal control couldn’t cut it alone, so
insecticides continued to play a key
role in IPM. One interesting insecticide
was the bacterium,Bacillus thuringien-
sis(Bt), which could be sprayed on the
plant and was strongly promoted by
Rachel Carson as an alternative to
broad-spectrum insecticides. When
caterpillars took a bite of foliage
treated with Bt they were killed by a
protein produced by Bt, but this protein
did not affect mammals and most other
organisms. The problem was that it
was impossible to treat all the surfaces306 REGULATIONS AND BIOSAFETY