About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline

74 S. Cal. L. Rev. 807 (2000-2001)
Mother Frankenstein, Doctor Nature, and the Environmental Law of Genetic Engineering

handle is hein.journals/scal74 and id is 817 raw text is: MOTHER FRANKENSTEIN, DOCTOR
NATURE, AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL
LAW OF GENETIC ENGINEERING
JOHN CHARLES KUNICH*
INTRODUCTION
As the new millennium dawns, the realm of the possible is expanding
with a second Big Bang. Unlike the primordial explosion that is
postulated to have spawned the universe, the current tumult is of human
creation. It is manifested both in a phenomenal array of new scientific and
technological advancements and in the response to those advancements by
some environmentalists.
A prime example is the advent of genetically engineered plants,
animals, and microorganisms.' Viewed by some as a lifeline for an
increasingly populous, resource-hungry world, these modem innovations
are seen by others as a potential environmental and public health
catastrophe of unprecedented proportions. It is a matter of the highest
importance to determine, as quickly and conclusively as possible, which of
these two polar opposite opinions is closer to the truth, and to implement
appropriate legal measures.
This Article first traces the history of genetic engineering and the
sometimes violent opposition to it. Parts IV and V critically examine the
means by which genetically engineered life forms are currently regulated,
* Associate Professor of Law. Roger Williams University School of Law. Bristol, Rho&-
Island. B.S., M.S., University of Illinois at Chicago; J.D., Harvard Law School; LLM, George
Washington University School of Law. The author thanks his wife, Marcia Vigil, and their daughter,
Christina Laurel Kunich, for their boundless love and support.
1. The terms genetically engineered, genetically modified, recombinant DNA, gec:-
spliced, bioengineered, and transgenic are essentially synonymous. For sake of convenience and
consistency, this Article generally uses the terms genetically engineered or transgenic.

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Contact us for annual subscription options:

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

profiles profiles most