Unhappy scientist quitting gene cow project

By ANNE BESTON and NZPA

The scientist at the centre of an experiment on human genes in cows has quit in frustration over continuing delays to his work.

Dr Phil L'Huillier, team leader of the AgResearch trial that has implanted a human gene into cows for multiple sclerosis research, will be working for a private company overseas when or if the calves from the experiment are born.

The 60 cows are due to give birth about the middle of next month.

Last week, the High Court at Wellington threw the work into doubt when it questioned the Environmental Risk Management Authority's decision to approve the research. The authority has been told to reconsider its decision.

That prompted calls from the Greens to have the genetically engineered pregnant cows destroyed because they could theoretically be classed as illegal organisms under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act.

AgResearch immediately asked for what was, in effect, a stay of execution from the High Court and, in a written judgment yesterday, was given an initial two-week reprieve while Erma reviews its decision-making process.

Dr L'Huillier had already expressed frustration when Erma took 18 months to give its original approval for the synthetic human protein, myelin, to be inserted into the cattle foetuses.

"Yet again we are waiting for a Government organisation to tell us whether or not we can continue," he said.

"My leaving is in part because of the frustration of trying to do things here. It's been a very hard decision to leave."

AgResearch chief executive officer Dr Keith Steele said the organisation would be sorry to lose Dr L'Huillier, but the project would continue.

"We have the right mix of skills within the team to deal with the consequences of one of the team leaving."

Meanwhile, the debate about the genetically engineered cows continued yesterday.

The "Genes and dairying" website run by a Waikato University academic called the experiment "embarrassing nonsense."

Professor Dick Wilkins, of Waikato University's biological sciences department, would not name the "expert" quoted on the website as saying the medical justification for the research - that it would help to find a treatment for multiple sclerosis - was "potentially very embarrassing and damaging ... and simply would not stand up to serious review."

Professor Wilkins would not say if the expert was a New Zealander.

Links:

Genes and dairying

Multiple Sclerosis Society of Auckland

Herald Online feature: the GE debate

GE links

GE glossary