Profit fans gene fever

WHATEVER the presentational flaws in the book by Mae-Wan Ho, for Mary Warnock to describe her as "the hysterical voice of doom" is grossly unfair (THES, May 29).

Warnock ignores (at least in this review) the ethical issues associated with genetic manipulation processes other than cloning - might there not be a moral problem in allowing genetically manipulated organisms into the environment to spread these inadequately tested modifications?

Has the precautionary principle still not been accepted? As Ho says, our future is being jeopardised solely for profit: this is not simple doom-mongering, nor does it imply a condemnation of lab-based genetic research for medical purposes.

James Mackenzie Kincaple Fife Scotland