From around the place at the moment ERMA (Environmental Risk Management Authority) are wanting submissions by Dec 8 on the revised methodology related to the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act. See ERMA: Submissions on proposed GMO regulations if you’re interested in making a submission. Strict rules hedge 10-year GE onion trial – 28 Nov…

Some interesting questions being raised by the Privacy Commission over the storage and lifetime of NZ baby’s DNA in blood samples taken at birth. From Warning on abuse of baby DNA data – Stuff.co.nz

Xenotransplantation clinical trials where pig tissue is transplanted into humans in order to help treat diabetes have been given provisional approval by the Minister of Health. Should make for some interesting discussion. See Go-ahead for pig cell trial on humans – National News – Dominion Post. See also the xenotransplantation information at Publications [Bioethics Council].

Today I’ve been reading bits of Pacific Genes & Life Patents which is a collection of papers looking at bioethics, biotechnology and genetics from Pacific and Oceanian perspectives. The articles aren’t always ‘polished’ but they convey a deep passion about the issues being faced and the need to Pacific voices to be heard in the…

Two different approaches to working towards treating the same condition. One via stem cells, the other via creating adapted foods. Stem-cell transplant staves off radical surgery for Crohn’s sufferer Nutrigenomics Nutrigenomics | Biotech Learning Hub Nutrigenomics New Zealand – About Us

ACART, the Advisory Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technology, has just released its recommendations to the Ministry of Health to broaden the use of frozen eggs in fertility treatment. (See ‘Babies from the grave’ a step closer – Stuff.co.nz) They have released a discussion document relating to their advice to the Minister, and is asking for…

Flying visit to Wellington yesterday for an Interchurch Bioethics Council meeting. Nice to be back in the Heavenly City, if only for 10 hours or so. Stimulating meeting too. More resources at: Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand // Media: Ecumenical & Interchurch – Interchurch Bioethics Council Resources.

Recent UK legislation relating to embryology included provision of the creation of human-animal hybrid embryos (which combine human and animal genetic material) for therapeutic research purposes. (See UK parliament backs human-animal embryo research | HEALTH | NEWS | tvnz.co.nz) What do you think? {democracy:2} Related links: Two different points of view on the UK embryology…

Interesting short article commenting on research presented at the recent American Association for the Advancement of Science conference which identifies religion as far more significant a factor in the US than in Europe. In part, it’s due to the conflation of nanotechnology with other things like biotechnology and the sense the people are ‘playing God’…

The New Zealand Bioethics Conference: Wellbeing and Technology last weekend was nice and stimulating. Some good plenary sessions, entertaining (and somewhat disturbing) public lectures, a wide variety of papers, and interesting people. These included: A really interesting talk from Brad Partridge, PhD student from the University of Queensland, who’s looking at public perceptions of life…