A bio-ethics seminar at Iowa State University early in January will revolvearound a concept that’s gaining strong influence in the field — the”precautionary principle.” Organizer and ISU professor Kristin Hessler saysthat principle says when there’s a possibility of doing harm, even ifthey’re not absolutely certain about it, researchers should not put offmeasures that could prevent that harm. Hessler says a panel at the January10th gathering will focus not on debate but on trying to reach some kind ofconsensus on what action would be wise. After the speakers, the group willbreak up into small groups and discuss how they’d use the PrecautionaryPrinciple regarding pharmceutical crops. Growing plants that might havemedical or therapeutic uses is a new bio-engineering field, but criticsraise concerns over what would happen if the altered life forms escaped fromcultivation or had unforeseen drawbacks. Does Hessler think things likethose concerns, and this week’s claim of cloning human beings, mean the areaof bio-ethics is irrelevant? She says because we hear such things and talkabout such concerns proves that we’re concerned with the ethics of suchmatters. The conference will feature nationally-recognized experts as wellas ISU leaders in bio-ethics and related fields. Though it’s not open to thepublic, conclusions and a summary will be posted afterward atwww.biotech.iastate.edu/biotech.html