Author: Sharman Burson Ramsey

 Genomic Research for High School Students: Breeding Ground for Dr. Moreau?

Sharman Burson Ramsey, BSE, MSE

Cecily Cathryn Ramsey, BSEE/Computer Engineering

The program Monday night at the Houston County Republican Party was delivered by Doug Mitchell, the former executive director of the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce where he was responsible for the overall operations of the chamber and supported projects related to economic, community and workforce development. The company involved in the “Genomics” research is called “Hudson Alpha.”  They are a 15 year old, non-profit business based in Huntsville, Alabama. 

The building in Dothan will be called the “Wiregrass Innovation Center.”  The new building will be downtown near the Art Museum and will be built by the City of Dothan. 

They will focus their initial efforts on peanut research. Their overall goal is to “recruit Agriculture Tech Companies to the Dothan area.”

The Power Point Presentation with high school students in lab coats using pipettes to engineer genetic alterations to DNA led the audience to appreciate the experience of hands on learning. But, what were we really watching? Are there concerns that should be considered before free-falling into a brave new world. 

1. Should our children now have access to DNA altering equipment? 

Children are precocious and innovative. They have not even begun to think through their own ethics. Who can assure that their limitation would be with a peanut and not human DNA? What can we expect of these children whose first inclination would be to prick a finger, look at the DNA in the equipment provided by Hudson Alpha and apply it wherever the whim might take them. 

There are not enough teachers to oversee these experiments. They are encouraged to use their imaginations and to "face their fears." While we understand the desire to get kids involved in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), giving them DNA equipment before they are given the basics is not wise. Just as a child would not be given a Lamborghini, a car that goes 200 miles an hour, you start them off in basic transportation and teach them limits. 

Doug Mitchell does well in public relations. But, I imagine he also supported Common Core and promoted it in our schools. And where has that gotten us? 

2. Do peanut farmers want GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) peanuts? Organisms have DNA. DNA is not just in peanuts, it is in all organisms. That goes from bacteria, to seeds, to people. 

3. Do Dothan residents want more GMOs in the food supply? Why are more people purchasing Organic foods? 

4. God made things the way they are because of how we are created. Look at the increased number of children with special dietary needs. Part of the diet for these children is non GMO. Organic produce inherently means Non GMO. That means NOT Genetically Modified. And yet the pollen from the altered crops will encroach upon neighboring farms that strive to be organic and by no fault of their own, the genetically modified seeds come over their property lines. Hence the lawsuits. 

And yet, the public relations folks have yet again sold us a bill of goods. And Dothan residents through their taxes will be funding this aberration. 

Are you prepared to make Dothan the new Island of Dr. Moreau?