§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what support her Department is giving to research into biotechnology and its major potential in the future.
§ Mrs. Shirley Williams:The Medical Research Council has long experience in 252W basic research which has provided the foundation for the development of biological products, including hormones, vaccines, antibiotics and immunological reagents. Current studies are providing the basis for new areas of exploitation: examples are the development of a technique for the synthesis of monospecific antibodies from a clone of cells in tissue culture; the application of various techniques for the synthesis of peptides; and projects designed to exploit the medical potential of genetic manipulation.
The Agricultural Research Council regards all research work in the field of agriculture as biotechnology. The areas of special priority are photosynthesis, nitrogen fixation and genetic manipulation.
The Science Research Council is supporting research into the technology of micro-biological processes; enzyme production; waste and effluent degradation, food technology; medical technology and general biochemical engineering.
The work of the research councils is underpinning the future potential of biotechnology. The application of results in this scientific field could well develop into a major technology.
The Advisory Council for Applied Research and Development—ACARD—and the Advisory Board for the Research Councils— ABRC—are planning to set up a joint working party on this subject.