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need rice with human genes  by DebraBroughton — last modified
Apr 20, 2007 12:50 PM Filed Under:  Despite repeated scandals
involving the contamination of rice seed stocks with GM
variants, the US government has given preliminary approval for
the large-scale planting of GM rice strains containing human
genes.  rice bowlHaving apparently abandoned plans to use their
GM rice as an additive to animal feedstuffs, Ventria Bioscience
is initially aiming to market their human protein-producing rice
as a cure for diarrhoea in developing countries. Since diarrhoea
can be highly effectively and inexpensively treated with simple
rehydration salts, producing a GM alternative is clearly an
absurdity. This has led to speculation that sick children in
developing countries are being used in a cynical campaign of
pretence suggesting that Ventria Bioscience is motivated by
altruism. Their longer-term p