PRESS RELEASES   BIOTECH CREATES THE FUTURE IN 2006 AND BEYOND 12/30/2005 Oklahoma Health Center News Vol. 11 No. 12 December 2005 By Michael D. Anderson, Ph.D., President Presbyterian Health Foundation Here is a brief history of the future of biotech on several random fronts that have a common reality: creating the future of saving and enhancing life for humans and all of life. The journal Nature reported that scientists have decoded the DNA of a dog in such great detail they believe it could hold keys to some human diseases. No wonder dogs are "man's best friend,” best friends of children and women too. The analysis of the 19,300 genes of a dog led to the discovery that dogs and humans have almost the same genes, which explains why they share many of the same diseases. (It may explain many of the same behaviors, my wife Lolly states). The future of Biotech in 2006 is as exciting as the future of basic research science that continues with unprecedented momentum to find new discoveries that shall be biotechnologically translated to useful products to save and enhance human life. Perhaps the leading philanthropist of the world, Bill Gates, says he expects no more than 20%, perhaps no more than 10% of the 43 health-research projects he is funding with $450M to come to fruition. "Even 10% would make the investment worthwhile." Gates has funded some the world's most brilliant scientists with his GRAND CHALLENGES IN GLOBAL HEALTH, ultimately with billions of dollars. The pay off will begin soon with very significant findings and suggested solutions beginning in 2006. A word about biotech and birds for 2006: The Wall Street Journal cited a World Bank warning of the economic impact of bird flu pandemic. (Recall the 1918 Pandemic of the Spanish Flu that killed 50,000,000 people) The report warned particularly of the impact on economies in East Asia. If the bird to bird virus mutates, a natural phenomenon of evolutionary biology, to spread among humans through human to human contact, the economic damage, not to mention the huge personal losses, could cause a world recession. Dr. Donald Burke, epidemiologists from Johns Hopkins Bloombery School of Public Health says that U.S. leadership in addressing this global threat is "a visionary step." In another WSJ article it is noted that the Congressional Budget Office estimates an unchecked avian flu pandemic could cost the U.S. economy $675B, plunging the nation into a recession with 30% of the work force down with the flu. The severe scenario assumes 90M Americans are infected and two million die. On another biotech front we consider the biotech food fight (Don't you love food-fights?). In an earlier issue we mentioned the voter’s war in Sonoma County California about "Measure M" which would prohibit genetically engineered organisms to be used in farming. Remember this is wine country. Here's how democracy spoke on one small biotech dispute: with a 69.6% turnout at the polls, the Measure M (anti-genetically modified farm products) party lost, 44.8% to 55.2%. Both winners and losers had post-election wine parties. Meanwhile in Europe, the Swiss voters approved a five-year ban on biotech crops (approved in all 26 cantons of Switzerland, 55.7% of the voters). On the other hand, the EC (European Commission) allows Denmark to pay farmers for crops mixed with biotech material, making the Danes the first country in the EU to receive such aid, according to a Reuters report. Change is often slow when it involves a political and scientific process; nevertheless, major changes are forthcoming in 2006 in many places on the planet. Again, the EC which has opposed many opportunities in the past to engage the biotech advantages has begun made some dramatic changes in attitude and policy. The EC approved imports of the 1507 strain of biotech corn produced jointly by DuPont's Pioneer Hi-Bred International and Dow Chemical's Argrosciences for animal feed. (Story from Associated Press) The biotech food translational science is spreading throughout the world, Cuba, China, India, Africa. The U.K. announced last week (The Guardian, 12/8/05) a commitment to developing biotech crops in Africa in an effort to speed economic growth, and fight hunger, leaving it up to individual countries on the continent whether or not to adopt the technology. Speaking of UK researchers, they say they have succeeded in developing a new form of broccoli, already considered rich in an anti-cancer compound, to deliver more than triple its normal levels of sulforaphane. They said some people lack a gene that helps absorb the compound, so allowing them to ingest larger amounts available in a 'super broccoli" could help. Remember (41st) President George Bush's public expression of dislike for broccoli? Some say it cost him an election among broccoli farmers...what is he doing for sulforaphane? We have wandered across a few diverse topics on biotech on purpose. Like or not, know it or not, there is a biotech reality in your future and it is a science whose practice is growing exponentially here in Oklahoma. At least that's our view, from the Presbyterian Health Foundation (Biotech) Research Park in Oklahoma City.