From: wheeler@super.org (Ferrell S. Wheeler)
Subject: News Blurbs 9
Organization: Supercomputing Research Center (Bowie, MD)
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 17:22:15 GMT


+ The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office informed Ohio
University they will grant a patent for a genetically
engineered mouse.  This is the second animal patent ever
issued, with the first going to Harvard University in 1988 for
its "oncomouse", a mouse genetically engineered to grow
malignant tumors.  The Ohio transgenic mouse was created by
injecting a human gene into fertilized mouse embryo in a
process referred to as "pronuclear microinjection." Scientists
claim this animal is resistant to viral infections and intend
to use the transgenic mouse in studies of the immune system's
response to cancer.  The editor of _Transgenic Research_
stated animal patents were needed as a "guarantee [to
companies] to protect the return on investment."
 
+ Governor Robert P. Casey of Pennsylvania made known his
contempt for animal rights activists and environmentalists at
a recent year-end news conference.  His reason -- abortion.
Casey was discussing his strong feelings against the abortion
issue and his belief the government should protect the
powerless.  When asked why that conviction did not extend to
the pigeon shoot issue, Casey angrily responded, "I'm up to
here with the ones that want to protect snail darters and the
spotted owl ... because these same people, these
environmentalists ... a lot of them, are a million miles an
hour in favor of abortion on demand."  Opponents to
Pennsylvania's pigeon shoots pledged to continue their battle
to ban the shoots.
 
+ Ohio, one of the top three fur-bearing trapping states,
reports some declines in trapping numbers.  The Division of
Wildlife said total sales declined 54 percent from last year.
Ohio trappers primarily seek muskrats and raccoon, although
they also trap mink, oppossum, skunk, weasel, gray fox, red
fox, beaver, coyote, and badger. Division records show there
are presently only 5,100 active trappers compared with over
21,000 ten years ago.  A spokesperson for the Division of
Wildlife mentioned that many trappers lose interest when pelt
prices drop, "even though most do it for recreation."  Ohio
has attempted to interest younger people in trapping by
establishing a youth program "to get a few kids started in the
right direction," according to the Division of Wildlife
representative.
 
+ Last week President Bush cautioned Norway that he is
extremely concerned about their plans to resume commercial
whaling.  Bush commented, "The moratorium on commercial
whaling adopted by the IWC is observed by the entire community
of nations, including those that are not members of the IWC
... If Norway, a founding member of the IWC, were to disregard
the moratorium, it would very likely lead to grave
consequences for the effectiveness of the IWC conservation
program."  Bush said he would not impose sanctions on
Norwegian products "at this time."
 
+ A man was mauled when he climbed into a pen housing three
bears at a Pakistani zoo.  After entering the moat, he
challenged the bears to a fight.  The man was rescued by
zookeepers and taken to a hospital.
 
Newsgroups: talk.politics.animals