Recently we posted some excerpts from articles including 'The Kept University' which pointed not only to the increasing corporate take over of academia, particularly in the bio-sciences, but how often this makes no sense in terms of either general economic benefit or the public good. For many, the ultimate goal is to use this rich source of information to improve medical treatment beyond our wildest dreams.
Dreams is the word.
As Dr Maewan Ho amonst others has poined out, the causes of human ill health are overwhelmingly environmental and social. Thus, the focus on genes in tackling disease is diverting attention and vast resources away from the real causes of ill health. Rest assured, the government is ready to support and enhance the competitiveness of the biotechnology industry. As closures and rationalisation plans dog departments in the physical sciences, biosciences are experiencing unprecedented growth, according to the main government funding agency for the subject. The main concern for the council's senior officials is to meet the increasing Demands for research funds from universities' flourishing life sciences communities.