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CNN Live Saturday

Biotech Conference Draws Protests

Aired June 23, 2001 - 17:05   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
STEPHEN FRAZIER, CNN ANCHOR: With every new scientific breakthrough come political and philosophical questions. Tomorrow, biotechnology researchers gather in San Diego, and wherever the scientists go, protesters will be sure to follow. CNN's Ann Kellan on their intentions.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANN KELLAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Those attending the 2001 biotech conference range from pharmaceutical companies working to create new drugs to biotech companies genetically engineering crops.

DAVID ROBINSON, BIO 2001 CONFERENCE: Clearly, what's going on with the science, I think, is properly characterized as a technological and scientific revolution in biology. We are learning at a pace that accelerates every year. We are learning about the human biology in ways that we could not contemplate 10 or even 15 years ago.

KELLAN: Some outside of the industry worry changes are happening too quickly, and are planning to protest the conference.

BRIAN TOKAR, BIOTECH PROTESTER: We don't believe that decisions about the future of our food and our health should be made in corporate board rooms and high-priced conventions. We believe that these are public issues that need to be debated and discussed and decided by the broad public in this country.

KELLAN: One big concern, Tokar says, is that big companies developing genetically altered seeds will eventually control the world's food supply.

The breakthroughs have been extraordinary. This biotech corn plant for example has had a bacteria gene inserted. The plant now poisons its predator, the corn boar, making corn easier to grow. But critics say we don't know the long-term effect of such breakthroughs on the environment or on human health.

TOKAR: More than half the processed food on our shelves contains genetically engineered ingredients. These products have been brought into the food supply with very little scrutiny, there are almost no independent studies that say that these foods are actually safe for human consumption. DUANE ROTH, BIO 2001 CONFERENCE: Engineered corn has been around more than 10 years. I don't know of one rash, one sneeze, one cough that anybody has been able to produce. If they did, nobody would -- you know, we (UNINTELLIGIBLE) every day. We work in these laboratories. We eat these foods. We are not interested in self- destruction.

KELLAN: Biotech researchers say recent breakthroughs in human genetics will fast-track the development of new pharmaceuticals. This conference will cover the science, but also the business ends of biotechnology, worth an estimated $22.3 billion a year and promising to grow even bigger.

Ann Kellan, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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