If there was, and there probably was some short-sighted people, they didn't prevail. Of course, the change resulting from our behavior is not of the magnitude of other natural occurrences, like earthquakes and the like. Nevertheless, we are a singular different animal. This piece takes a huge jump in time and discusses gene modification other than that caused by a varieties of other natural phenomena. The huge jump being referred to is the agricultural revolution in which human beings produced new varieties of plants and animals.
Precaution is always advisable but putting the breaks on science makes no sense at all.
It was an Associated Press article from London. A number of people have openly defied the ban, a precaution against the spread of mad cow disease. But it appears that only Jim Sutherland will answer for it.