FTR#269--WAY Too Much Monkey Business (Update on Genetic Engineering, Biological
Warfare and Contaminated Vaccines)--(Two 30-minute segments.) (Sources are
noted in parentheses.)
This program details some alarming developments in the
fields of bio-technology and medicine. Unwittingly (perhaps), these
"advances" may have devastating applications to the field of
biological warfare.
1.
The
British magazine New Scientist
reported that Australian gene engineers had converted a mousepox virus into a
deadly killer. ("Aussie Scientists Stumble Across the Doomsday Bug"
[Agence
2.
The
mousepox virus is closely related to the human smallpox virus, and the
insertion of the molecule interleukin 4 (IL-4) made the rodent version much
deadlier. (Idem.)
3.
Specifically,
the virus destroyed the immune systems of the infected mice, and fit proved
resistant to a vaccine that would normally protect mice from infection. (Idem.)
4.
Scientists
are afraid that, if IL-4 were added to the human smallpox virus, it could
become much deadlier. (Idem.)
5.
Next,
the broadcast highlights discussion about a theory that AIDS may have resulted
from the contamination of a polio vaccine with HIV. ("Quest for the Origin
of AIDS" by William Carlsen;
6.
The
article (first of two parts) gives some credence to the theory advanced in the
book The River by Edward Hooper.
(Idem.)
7.
The
hypothesis appears to be the synthesis of distinct, but related
hypotheses--that an epidemic of soft tissue cancers resulted from the
contamination of the polio vaccine with a cancer-causing monkey virus (SV40)
and the contamination of an experimental hepatitis-B vaccine with HIV.
8.
Most
of the program consists of excerpts of an interview with Ed Haslam, the author
of Mary, Ferrie and the Monkey Virus: The
Story of an Underground Medical Laboratory (Wordsworth Press, copyright
1995.) In the interview, Ed effectively debunks Hooper's hypothesis, and points
out that the publication of The River
led to the destruction of existing stocks of the old polio vaccine. Ed also
debunks a bogus theory that AIDS had evolved as early as 1930, pointing out
that the "data" utilized to validate that theory came from a
chimpanzee in a U.S. Air Force laboratory in the
9.
After
the Haslam interview, the broadcast highlights an alarming genetic engineering
experiment. In the experiment, a jellyfish gene was successfully inserted into
a monkey egg, the egg was then fertilized and the protein created by the
inserted gene was passed on to the young monkey. ("Monkey Born With Altered
Cells in Gene Engineering Experiment" by Gina Kolata; New York Times;
10.
The
stated purpose of the experiment was "to create colonies of monkeys that
had been genetically modified to develop a human disease." (Idem.) In
numerous programs cited below, the dangers of bridging the "species
barrier" are cited. In particular, primate viruses and human illness have
been positively linked by numerous credible
studies.
11.
Next,
the program sets forth information about a genetically engineered vaccine being
marketed by the Bayer company. The vaccine is said to have anti-cancer
properties and acts on a gene that causes tumors. ("Bayer, Millennium Say
Genomic Drug that They Developed Fights Tumors" by Vanessa Fuhrmans; Wall Street Journal;
12.
The
program concludes with examination of claims that a vaccine that inoculates
children for measles, mumps and rubella can be dangerous. ("Report Over
Vaccine Sparks off Political Row, as Campaigners Say Figures Will not Change
their Opposition;"