Bio/Technology/Diversity News Bulletin Volume 2, Number 20, (1993)

Bio/Technology/Diversity News Bulletin Volume 2, Number 20 December 7, 1993 Code: NL93020 Size of Files: Text: 10K Graphics: No associated graphics files CONTENTS HEADLINES: - EUROPEAN COMMISSION RECOMMENDS FAST TRACK FOR BGH BAN - USDA WORKING ON SUPERIOR CATFISH - IRRI WORKING ON FERTILIZER-EFFICIENT RICE - SWEEPING COTTON PATENT BACK IN THE NEWS - U.S. PRESSURES INDIA ON PATENT LAWS - BIOTECH COMPANIES CITE HEALTH CARE REFORM FOR LACK OF INNOVATION ----------------------------------------------------- News Summaries ----------------------------------------------------- BIOTECHNOLOGY ----------------------------------------------------- * EUROPEAN COMMISSION RECOMMENDS FAST TRACK FOR BGH BAN Last week, the European Commission requested urgent treatment for the commission's recommendation to extend the current ban on synthetic bovine growth hormone (BGH) for an additional seven years.... * USDA WORKING ON SUPERIOR CATFISH Geneticists with the USDA's Agriculture Research Service are developing a superior breed of catfish using a form of genetic engineering called gynogenesis.... * IRRI WORKING ON FERTILIZER-EFFICIENT RICE Researchers at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) are working on a breed of rice which efficiently utilizes fertilizer.... * SWEEPING COTTON PATENT BACK IN THE NEWS Yesterday, National Public Radio did a story on a sweeping patent granted to Agracetus, a subsidiary of the W.R. Grace company, on all genetically engineered varieties of cotton.... * U.S. PRESSURES INDIA ON PATENT LAWS The U.S. government is pressuring India to open up its financial sector and provide more protection for intellectual property.... * BIOTECH COMPANIES CITE HEALTH CARE REFORM FOR LACK OF INNOVATION Biotechnology companies have cited the threat of President Clinton's health care reforms as the biggest reason for delays in researching AIDS and AIDS-related drugs...