From: Ron Sosnowski [bsosnow1@san.rr.com]
Sent: Sunday, March 25, 2001 1:38 PM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Cc: senator@feinstein.senate.gov
Subject: Support for Genetically Modified Organisms

FDA Commissioner 
Dockets Management Branch (HFA 305)
Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fisher’s Lane, rm. 1061
Rockville, MD 20852

RE: Docket No. 00N-1396, and 00D-1598

Dear Sir/Madam:

I hold a doctoral degree in biochemistry from The Johns Hopkins
University and have been involved in molecular medical research since
1975.  My thesis research was based on a very early strain of transgenic
mice that I had originated in 1983.  My professional career has focused
on molelcular cellular genetics and most recently, I have become
Director of Molecular Biology at a biotech company doing DNA chips, but
no work in plant genetics.  I provide this information as an indication
of my knowledge of the topic at hand.  This note reflects my personal
opinion.  I am not acting as a spokesman for any organization.

Recently we have seen well organized groups having an impact on public
policy that might be viewed as disproportionate with their numbers. 
While I strongly support the participation of citizens in running their
government, I am concerned that organizational skills alone may skew the
government's perception of what's best for it's populace.  

I fear that the debate over genetically modified organisms may become a
"cause celibre" among those with identifiable public faces. An example
is my own awareness of this docket through a full-page ad in Outside
Magazine, sponsored by Patagonia, a company that markets outdoor
clothing.   There is a link from Patagonia's web site to a website for
the Center for Food Safety and an e-mail opposing GMO's written by the
Center for Food Safety. CFS also provides automatic cc to President
Bush, and the senders senators and representatives.

The majority of Patagonia's ad depicts a butterfly in apparent distress.
 I'm assuming that this implies a connection to a paper published in
Science several months ago on the effects of a GM plant on development
of butterfly larvae.  I read the Science article when it was first
published.  I thought it was good science.  An experimental system was
set up that would give the greatest opportunity for an observable
result.  Indeed the investigators saw a significant effect.  As I
recall, caterpillars feeding on GM plants resulted in abnormalities in
50% of adult butterflys, while controls had essentially no
abnormalities.  I also seem to recall that the scientists noted in their
discussion that this was an artificial system, and likely would not
represent the conditions in the environment.  However, I came away from
reading this paper believing these results warrant further investigation
into effects of GM plants on the environment.  It would be naive to
assume that there would be absolutely no effect in all conceivable
conditions.  It is important that we know the conditions that could lead
to undesirable effects. 

However, good science assumes integrity and good will on the part of
those using it.  Using the only example I am aware of, I don't believe
that Patagonia is displaying those attributes in it's campaign.  Their
willingness to criticize an industry so far removed from having any
negative economic impact on their own business, while ignoring the well
documented human rights abuses in the clothing industry, raises
suspicion of self-serving motivations.   

I believe that public fears about GMOs should be acknowledged and
assuaged.  This whole situation is remeniscent of the public uproar over
recombinant DNA.  Scientists convened the Assilomar Conference to gain
the public's confidence.  Their success has lead to many useful and
life-saving products and ironically, to this current controversy.  

As a biochemist I feel that direct health risks to individuals from
eating GMOs is exceedingly slight, but that the potential risk to the
environment should be more clearly defined, without impairing progress
in this important field.  Please don't allow emotional hysteria to cloud
this issue.  GMOs hold out fantastic potential for solutions to health,
energy and nutritional issues that affect not only our citizens, but the
populations of the entire world.

Sincerely,

Ron Sosnowski


1013 Adella Ave.
Coronado, CA 92118

bsosnow1@san.rr.com