Long fight for gene research

Many New Zealanders would be baffled over why scientists would want to put a human gene in a cow in the first place.

But for more than two years state-owned science research institute AgResearch has been doing just that - experimenting with inserting copies of human genes into cattle.

AgResearch says the research could lead to a potential cure for multiple sclerosis. Its opponents say this is just a convenient excuse to justify a growing number of genetic experiments.

When the first round of the trials were approved, early last year, many people who had paid scant attention to the issue suddenly sat up and took notice. Human genes in cows conjured up visions of "Frankencows".

The Government's gene science watchdog, the Environmental Risk Management Authority, pleased no one when it cleared the trials to go ahead.

The decision had taken it 18 months, frustrating scientists involved in the project at Ruakura.

Anti-GM groups and some Waikato iwi were also unhappy. Waikato's Ngati Wairere argued Erma had paid scant regard to their cultural, spiritual and ethical beliefs in approving the research.

The iwi became involved in an appeal against the approval to the High Court, arguing Erma had not followed correct procedure in giving the green light. The court told Erma to go away and review its procedures, which it did but came back with the same answer: the research complied with the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act which regulates the creation of GM organisms.

GM critics pointed to a plunging share price for some biotech companies as evidence the new technology was not quite as exciting as scientists claimed.

The share price of PPL Therapeutics, a Scotland-based company which produced Dolly the sheep, fell 20 per cent this year amid fears Dolly was suffering from arthritis.

Most of PPL's genetically altered sheep are kept on a farm just outside Mangakino and their milk is sent to Scotland where scientists extract a protein, AAT, which the company says could be developed as a treatment for emphysema and cystic fibrosis.

AgResearch is understood to be spending about $350,000 on this application. There has been speculation of a possible joint venture between the Crown-owned institute and PPL.

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