• Coalition urges VETO of  AB 926 – Human Egg Harvesting Threatens Women’s Health

    Coalition urges VETO of AB 926 – Human Egg Harvesting Threatens Women’s Health

    Contact Governor Brown today and urge him to: VETO AB 926!! AB 926 will expand the market in human eggs by paying young women to “donate” their eggs for research. But egg harvesting involves serious health risks! Tell Governor Brown that if California approves paying women to risk their health and fertility it should take […]

  • Podcast: Tinkering with DNA – Stuart Newman interviewed by C. S. Soong on Against the Grain, KPFA 94.1 FM

    Originally broadcast on Against the Grain, KPFA 94.1 FM Wedensday, June 12, 2013 Download program audio (mp3, 48.38 Mbytes) Worried about genetically modified organisms, and GM food? Well, a number of scientists are pursuing the genetic modification of humans, altering DNA sequences that will be passed along to future generations. According to Stuart Newman, inheritable […]

  • Podcast: Jim Thomas,  Becky McClain and Edward Hammon discuss synthetic biology on Before You Leap

    Podcast: Jim Thomas, Becky McClain and Edward Hammon discuss synthetic biology on Before You Leap

    BioBeware By the Center for Environmental Health Originally published by Before You Leap, the podcast of the Center for Environmental Health. We hear from Jim Thomas on the story of how the birth of modern synthetic chemistry began with the color purple and what this means for dealing with the risky new technology of synthetic […]

  • Synthetic Biology: The Bioeconomy of Landlessness and Hunger

    Synthetic Biology: The Bioeconomy of Landlessness and Hunger

    by  the ETC Group Originally  published by ETCGroup.org For the full briefing please download the PDF file. Synthetic biology represents a quantum advance on biotechnology, and goes beyond transferring genes between species to constructing entirely new, self-replicating microorganisms that have the potential (partially proven / partially theoretical) to convert any biomass or carbon feedstock into any product that […]

  • Supreme Court Strikes Down Gene Patents in Breast Cancer Gene Case

    Supreme Court Strikes Down Gene Patents in Breast Cancer Gene Case

    By Pete Shanks and Marcy Darnovsky Originally published on Biopolitical Times The Supreme Court’s June 13, 2013 unanimous ruling against Myriad Genetics is a triumph for common sense and the common good, and for scientific research and legal fundamentals as well. The decision means that all of the existing patents on human genes – some […]

  • Reactions to the Supreme Court Ruling on Patenting Human Genes

    by Pete Shanks Originally published on Biopolitical Times The unanimous Supreme Court decision [pdf] (June 13, 2013) that human genes may not be patented was greeted with unbridled enthusiasm by the large coalition of plaintiffs and supporters. Early reactions concurred that the decision is indeed a momentous one. The Center for Genetics and Society response […]

  • Video: Genetically Modified Humans, Stuart Newman and Milton Reynolds

    Video: Genetically Modified Humans, Stuart Newman and Milton Reynolds

    Stuart Newman, PhD in conversation with Milton Reynolds: June 6, Patent Pending – The Rise of Genetically Modified Humans EAST BAY CONVERSATIONS The Promises and Perils of Biotechnology Stuart Newman, PhD in conversation with Milton Reynolds of Facing History and Ourselves. Thursday, June 6, 2013, 7: 30 pm Brower Center’s Goldman Theater (2150 Allston Way, […]

  • Campaign to Stop Release of Synthetic Seeds Launches Online Petition & Crowd Funding

    Campaign to Stop Release of Synthetic Seeds Launches Online Petition & Crowd Funding

    ETC Group has launched a crowd funding page at Indiegogo to support the “Kickstopper” campaign aimed at stopping the first mass release of synthetic organisms into the environment. Also just launched is a petition to get Kickstarter to withdraw their support for the synthetic glowing plant PR campaign that leverages lax regulation in the United […]

  • Mapping the Growth Of Synthetic Biology: Wilson Center Findings For 2013

    Mapping the Growth Of Synthetic Biology: Wilson Center Findings For 2013

    View the map Download the PDF summary of findings Except from the Wilson Center TRACKING THE GROWTH OF SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY: FINDINGS FOR 2013: Major Findings: The number of entities conducting research in synthetic biology increased significantly between 2009 and 2013, resulting in a total of 508 unique entities in the 2013 inventory [See footnotes1 2 […]

  • EU’s Scientific Committees to Look at Synthetic Biology

    Download: synthetic_biology_mandate_en.pdf Reposted from Regulatory Update | 17 May 2013 By Ansis Helmanis, RegLink The European Commission’s three Scientific Committees have been requested to provide a joint scientific opinion on the relationship of Synthetic Biology (SB) to genetic modification of organisms, its implications for human and animal health and the environment, and the major gaps in knowledge necessary […]