Julian Kinderlerer

The GM public debate: context and communication strategies

Science communication is developing a new approach that promotes dialogue between scientists and the public. A recent example is the debate on the possible introduction of genetically modified crops into the United Kingdom. As this exercise in public engagement draws to a close, we consider the context in which this debate has taken place, and the challenges of developing such interactions between science and society.

The Media and Public Understanding of Biotechnology A Survey of Scientists and Journalists

An exploratory survey was conducted to investigate the perceptions and opinions of two important “expert” groups—scientists and journalists. Scientists working in the biotechnology field and journalists who had written or broadcast about it were regarded as key players in the communication of information about scientific developments to the lay population. This research showed that both groups agreed that the media have an important part to play in informing the public about biotechnology. Scientists were more likely than journalists to perceive coverage as too sensational and dramatic, too speculative, with too much emphasis on risks. Scientists did not exhibit much trust in journalists, even though journalists were as likely as scientists to agree that media reporting of biotechnology should be sober, balanced, and focused on the facts. Both groups also agreed that journalists need to ensure they are technically prepared when reporting on complex science issues. Scientists probably needed more media training and support from their own professional culture to facilitate more effective relations with media professionals and the public.

A computer program to derive the rate equations of enzyme catalysed reactions with up to ten enzyme-containing intermediates in the reaction mechanism

The paper describes a program, designed for a desk-top computer, which can be used to derive the rate equations of enzyme catalysed reactions with up to ten enzyme-containing intermediates included in the mechanism. The program allows the rate equation to be presented in simplified forms of practical use and in a variety of formats.

Exponential model for a two-ligand, regulatory enzyme. Part 1: Computer programs for the determination of the model constants from initial velocity data

The exponential model for a regulatory enzyme with two ligands (either two substrates or one substrate and an effector) provides an expression for the initial velocity of the catalysed reaction in terms of the fractional saturation of the enzyme by each ligand. This paper describes a program which determines the constants of the model from velocity data, measured with respect to the concentrations of the two ligands, when the corresponding fractional saturations are unknown. Listings of the essential routines, written in BASIC, are provided.

Risk and the law

Scientists do not necessarily like the restrictions and regulations of biotechnology, but they need to accept that lawmakers must reflect the wishes and demands of the majority of the population, who are increasingly aware of the potential risks

A solution to the controversy on plant variety protection in Africa

African countries can establish a plant variety protection system that supports commercial seed systems without negatively affecting smallholder farmers.

The exponential model for a regulatory enzyme: a computer program to determine the constants for the binding of a single ligand.

The paper describes a non-linear multiple regression program to analyse data arising from the binding of a single ligand by a protein under the assumption that the reaction can be represented by the exponential model for a regulatory enzyme.

Is a European convention on the ethical use of modern biotechnology needed

The last session of the conference examined the public’s perception of biotechnology and the media. John Durant (National Museum of Science and Industry, London, UK) reported on the last Eurobarometer survey, completed in 1996. He confirmed that the European public discriminates between sources of information, with medical practitioners trusted most, and industry and politicians least. There are differences in the different European countries. The majority of Europeans doubt the sufficiency of current biotechnology regulation, and in particular would like there to be much-greater public involvement in the decision-making process. Indeed, most Europeans would like to see biotechnology regulated by international organizations.All the surveys that were reported indicated that the public discriminates between various uses of biotechnology, accepting some, but rejecting others, particularly in food. Richard Braun (Biolink, Worb, Switzerland) continued the discussion on public acceptance by discussing the Swiss referendum on the banning of biotechnology in Switzerland. He provided information about the various issues raised during the referendum debate, and also about the system of democracy and public involvement in Switzerland.Dorothy Nelkin (New York University, New York, USA) discussed the ‘media and biotechnology: the case of cloning’. Unlike Europe, where food has caused most controversy, the cloning of ‘Dolly’ the lamb had resulted in an outpouring of media interest in the new technology in the USA. She provided an analysis of the behaviour of the media ‘often cited as amplifiers of both the irrational fears and the excessive expectations of biotechnology’. ‘Far more than a biological entity, Dolly is a cultural icon’ and ‘provides a window on popular beliefs about human nature and social order, on public fears of science and its power in society and on concerns about the human future in the biotechnology age.’Gilbert Hottois (Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium) discussed ‘Public perception: question of values’, raising many of the same issues as Dorothy Nelkin, but emphasizing the different values of the various societies in which the new technology is to be introduced. There is a need to be cautious about these values because of the complexity and confusion surrounding the differences. The general conclusion of this session was that the need to inform and educate cannot be left to industry or to scientists (both of whom are seen as lobbyists), but needs the involvement of public institutions at an international and national level. For example, genetic modification has an extraordinarily bad profile, but remediation is not straightforward and the mechanisms for modifying public attitudes to the new technology are not easily understood.In conclusion, the reports and discussions at this conference could (and should) be considered by the Parliamentary Assembly and the Council of Ministers in order to decide on the manner in which Europe can proceed on this vexed issue. This conference was called in response to the resolution of 1993, and provided those parliamentarians present with the wide range of views that reflect the diversity of backgrounds of both speakers and participants. There was a consensus of opinion that the monitoring of transgenic organisms in the environment is needed, probably at an international level. The Council could play an important role in this to ensure that the system lacks bias and is seen to be supranational.A crucial point that frequently arose was that there is a need to protect the interests of future generations. Informed consent from both patient and society could often provide a basis for proceeding, but when modifying our environment, there was seen to be a need to ensure that sustainability was properly considered. Enric Banda (European Science Foundation, Strasbourg, France), the General Rapporteur, suggested that the ‘Council of Europe could take the initiative of developing the concept of an ombudsman to represent the interests of future generations’, so that this becomes explicit rather than implicit when considering the issues raised by the introduction of products of modern biotechnology into the environment. He also noted that there is also a desperate need to find a definitive definition of the ‘precautionary principle’, another issue on which the Council of Europe could take a lead.

Exponential model for a regulatory enzyme. Computer program for the determination of the model constants from initial velocity data

The paper describes a program (DESCENT) which evaluates the constants of the exponential model for a regulatory enzyme with up to four substrates or up to three substrates and one effector. The program operates by repetitive adjustment of the model constants so as to secure a better fit between the observed and calculated initial velocities of reaction. At each adjustment, all the constants are incremented simultaneously by amounts determined by a steepest descent criterion. The program is tested by artificial data with and without added error and it is shown that good estimates of the constants can be recovered.

The derivation of second degree rate equations arising from two-substrate, two-product enzyme catalysed reactions whose catalytic cycle is branched

A selection of two-substrate, two-product enzyme catalysed reactions with alternate catalytic cycles and second degree rate equations was examined by the computer program described by Kinderlerer and Ainsworth (1976). It is shown that the numerator terms of the rate equations are particularly simple, easy to derive and capable of creating a broad division of the mechanisms considered. THE NUMERATOR TERMS ALSO HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF BEING UNAFFECTED BY DEAD END INHIBITION OR THE PRESENCE OF Theorell-Chance reactions. It is then shown that the relatively small group of mechanisms, isolated by the numerator analysis, can be distinguished from each other by considering the denominator terms of the rate equation that are second degree in the concentration of the varied substrate.