Suzanne Wuerthele

Dr. Suzanne Wuerthele is a Board-certified toxicologist and risk assessor. Her PhD is in Pharmacology (Michigan State University); she holds a Master of Arts in Science Education and a BS in Biology (University of Pittsburgh). Although she has worked for 20 years as a senior scientist at a federal agency, she will be with us at the Café in her capacity of Chair of the Genetic Engineering Committee of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Sierra Club.

About the topic

Genetic engineering—creation of new organisms by recombinant DNA techniques—will it "make the industrial revolution pale by comparison" (Austin Cargill, CEO of one of the world's largest seed companies) or will it be "the greatest disaster in modern capitalism" (activist Jeremy Rifkin)?

States are betting on biotech, competing hard to lure both agricultural and pharmaceutical "biotech" businesses in the hopes of tax revenues from blockbuster products. In the space of 10 years, transgenic corn, cotton, soybeans, and canola became the choice for most American farmers. Strangely, despite a vigorous debate about genetic engineering in Europe and the UK, few Americans are aware that 70% of processed foods they eat are now made with GE ingredients. Genetic engineering raises new questions about health, environmental risks, consumer rights, patent law and world trade; consolidation of agriculture, ethics and our own democracy. The Sierra Club believes that people have a right to know about and understand the promise and perils of this revolution.

Britain's New Scientist magazine has some very interesting, Eurocentered, articles about GM food.


	GPS METRIC: 39.7486 -104.9478