David Castle

The case for strategic international alliances to harness nutritional genomics for public and personal health

Nutrigenomics is the study of how constituents of the diet interact with genes, and their products, to alter phenotype and, conversely, how genes and their products metabolise these constituents into nutrients, antinutrients, and bioactive compounds. Results from molecular and genetic epidemiological studies indicate that dietary unbalance can alter gene-nutrient interactions in ways that increase the risk of developing chronic disease. The interplay of human genetic variation and environmental factors will make identifying causative genes and nutrients a formidable, but not intractable, challenge. We provide specific recommendations for how to best meet this challenge and discuss the need for new methodologies and the use of comprehensive analyses of nutrient-genotype interactions involving large and diverse populations. The objective of the present paper is to stimulate discourse and collaboration among nutrigenomic researchers and stakeholders, a process that will lead to an increase in global health and wellness by reducing health disparities in developed and developing countries.

Needed: models of biotechnology intellectual property

Although never uncontroversial, intellectual property rights in biotechnological innovation are once more the focus of intense debate. The debate has yet to reach any result, largely because of several important errors in the way that various disciplines approach it. These errors include making assumptions without empirical basis and conflating various intellectual property regimes. What is needed is a transdisciplinary integrated method to correct these errors. Such a method can be implemented through the construction of alternative models of intellectual property protection designed to balance the various social, ethical and economic constraints that affect biotechnology.

Changes in Herbicide Use after Adoption of HR Canola in Western Canada

Abstract This article examines the changes in herbicide use in relation to canola production in Western Canada, comparing 1995 and 2006. The commercialization and widespread adoption of herbicide-resistant (HR) canola has changed weed management practices in Western Canada. Before the introduction of HR canola, weeds were controlled by herbicides and tillage as the leading herbicides at that time required tillage to allow for soil incorporation of the herbicide. Much of the tillage associated with HR canola production has been eliminated as 64% of producers are now using zero or minimum tillage as their preferred form of crop and soil management. Additionally, there have been significant changes regarding the use and application of herbicides for weed control in canola. This research shows that when comparing canola production in 1995 and 2006, the environmental impact of herbicides applied to canola decreased 53%, producer exposure to chemicals decreased 56%, and quantity of active ingredient applied decreased 1.3 million kg. The cumulative environmental impact was reduced almost 50% with the use of HR herbicides. If HR canola had not been developed and Canadian canola farmers continued to use previous production technologies, the amount of active ingredient applied to control weeds in 2007 would have been 60% above what was actually applied. Nomenclature: 2,4-D; clopyralid; ethalfluralin; ethametsulfuron; glufosinate; glyphosate; imazamox; imazethapyr; sethoxydim; trifluralin; Brassica napus L

Patent landscaping for life sciences innovation: toward consistent and transparent practices

As industry, governments and academia increasingly rely on patent landscapes to map scientific and technological trends, an interdisciplinary workshop provides recommendations for developing consistent and transparent landscaping practices.

Handbook on Agriculture, Biotechnology and Development

This book is a compendium of knowledge, experience and insight on agriculture, biotechnology and development. Beginning with an account of GM crop adoptions and attitudes towards them, the book assesses numerous crucial processes, concluding with detailed insights into GM products. Drawing on expert perspectives of leading authors from 57 different institutions in 16 countries, it provides a unique, global overview of agbiotech following 20 years of adoption. Many consider GM crops the most rapid agricultural innovation adopted in the history of agriculture. This book provides insights as to why the adoption has occurred globally at such a rapid rate.

Science, society, and the supermarket : the opportunities and challenges of nutrigenomics

Preface. Acknowledgments. 1 NUTRITIONAL GENOMICS: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES. 1.1 Introduction. 1.2 What is Nutritional Genomics? 1.3 Methodology and Approach of this Book. 1.4 Opportunities and Challenges for Nutrigenomics. 1.4.1 Improved health. 1.4.2 Personalized dietary advice. 1.4.3 Improved diet. 1.4.4 More development of health-enhancing food products. 1.4.5 Consumer empowerment. 1.4.6 Reducing health disparities. 1.4.7 Health care savings. 1.5 Challenges and a Road Map of This Book. References. 2 THE SCIENCE OF NUTRIGENOMICS AND NUTRIGENETICS. 2.1 Introduction. 2.2 The Scientific Context. 2.2.1 Nutrigenomics. 2.2.2 Nutrigenetics. 2.3 The Case of MTHFR. 2.4 Room for Improvement. 2.4.1 Study design. 2.4.2 Epigenetics. 2.4.3 SNPs and haplotypes. 2.4.4 Dietary intake assessment. 2.4.5 Biomarkers. 2.4.6 Susceptibility and predictions. 2.4.7 Analytical and clinical validity. 2.4.8 Clinical utility. 2.5 Science and Technology Assessment. 2.6 Conclusion. References. 3 THE ETHICS OF NUTRIGENOMIC TESTS AND INFORMATION. 3.1 Introduction. 3.2 Ethical Principles. 3.3 Nutrigenomics Testing in the Clinical Setting. 3.3.1 Informed consent. 3.3.2 Confidentiality. 3.3.3 Secondary information. 3.3.4 Families. 3.3.5 Genetic testing of children and adolescents. 3.4 Use of Nutrigenomics Information for Research. 3.5 Use of Nutrigenomics Information by Private Third Parties. 3.5.1 Insurance. 3.5.2 Employment. 3.5.3 Legal and social responses to fears of discrimination. 3.6 Conclusion. References. 4 ALTERNATIVES FOR NUTRIGENOMIC SERVICE DELIVERY. 4.1 Introduction. 4.2 Considerations for Nutrigenomic Service Delivery. 4.2.1 Strength of the science. 4.2.2 Regulatory environment. 4.2.3 Human resource capacity and professional competence. 4.2.4 Funding policy. 4.2.5 Professional politics and culture. 4.2.6 Consumers and patients. 4.3 Four Alternative Models. 4.3.1 Consumer model. 4.3.2 Health practitioner model. 4.3.3 Blended models. 4.3.4 Public health model. 4.4 Conclusion. References. 5 NUTRIGENOMICS AND THE REGULATION OF HEALTH CLAIMS FOR FOODS AND DRUGS. 5.1 Introduction. 5.1.1 Genetic tests, service delivery, and genetic antidiscrimination. 5.2 Food Categories: Functional Foods, Nutraceuticals, Medicinal Foods, and Dietary Supplements. 5.2.1 Functional foods. 5.2.2 Nutraceuticals. 5.2.3 Medical or medicinal foods. 5.2.4 Dietary supplements. 5.3 Health-Related Claims Associated with Foods Compared to Drugs. 5.3.1 Structure-function claims. 5.3.2 Health claims. 5.3.3 Medical food claims. 5.3.4 Disease risk reduction claims. 5.4 Nutrigenomic Information and the Regulation of Foods Compared to Drugs. 5.4.1 The regulation of foods. 5.4.2 The regulation of drugs. 5.5 Food and Drug Regulations in Japan, the United States, and Canada. 5.5.1 Japan. 5.5.2 United States. 5.5.3 Canada. 5.6 Conclusion. References. 6 NUTRIGENOMICS: JUSTICE, EQUITY, AND ACCESS. 6.1 Introduction. 6.2 Industrialized Country Context. 6.2.1 Individualized nutrigenomic testing. 6.2.2 Population-based nutrigenomics. 6.3 Developing Country Context. 6.3.1 Individualized nutrigenomic testing. 6.4 Nutrigenomics and Intellectual Property. 6.4.1 An issue of access to scientific information. 6.5 Conclusion. References. 7 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. 7.1 Introduction. 7.1.1 Nutrigenomic science. 7.1.2 Nutrigenomics and health information management. 7.1.3 Nutrigenomic service delivery. 7.1.4 Regulation of nutrigenomics. 7.1.5 Access and equity. 7.2 A Final Word. Index.

Family history tools in primary care: does one size fit all?

Family health history (FHH) has potential value in many health care settings. This review discusses the potential uses of FHH information in primary care and the need for tools to be designed accordingly. We developed a framework in which the attributes of FHH tools are mapped against these different purposes. It contains 7 attributes mapped against 5 purposes. In considering different FHH tool purposes, it is apparent that different attributes become more or less important, and that tools for different purposes require different implementation and evaluation strategies. The context in which a tool is used is also relevant to its effectiveness. For FHH tools, it is unlikely that ‘one size fits all’, although appreciation of different purposes, users and contexts should facilitate the development of different applications from single FHH platforms.

Novel GM animal technologies and their governance

Scientific advances in methods of producing genetically modified (GM) animals continue, yet few such animals have reached commercial production. Existing regulations designed for early techniques of genetic modification pose formidable barriers to commercial applications. Radically improved techniques for producing GM animals invite a re-examination of current regulatory regimes. We critically examine current GM animal regulations, with a particular focus on the European Union, through a framework that recognises the importance of interactions among regulatory regimes, innovation outcomes and industry sectors. The current focus on the regulation of risk is necessary but is unable to discriminate among applications and tends to close down broad areas of application rather than facilitate innovation and positive industry interactions. Furthermore, the fields of innovative animal biosciences appear to lack networks of organisations with co-ordinated future oriented actions. Such networks could drive coherent programmes of innovation towards particular visions and contribute actively to the development of regulatory systems for GM animals. The analysis presented makes the case for regulatory consideration of each animal bioscience related innovation on the basis of the nature of the product itself and not the process by which it was developed.

Hopes against Hopeful Monsters

the fact that our ‘humanness’ might no longer be the exclusive possession of Homo sapiens?” And as different forms of intelligent life are created through transgenics and genetic engineering, the courts, legislatures, and legal community will be forced to determine where these creations fall on the person-property continuum. ■ References Annas, G. J., L. B. Andrews, and R. M. Isasi. 2002. Protecting the endangered human: Toward an international treaty prohibiting cloning and inheritable alterations. American Journal of Law & Medicine 28:151–78.

Benefits of genetically modified herbicide tolerant canola in Western Canada

Commercial production of genetically modified herbicide tolerant (GMHT) canola began in Western Canada in 1997. By 2007, it generated between