For Nobel laureate microbiologist Sidney Altman, biofuels and clones
are 'no, no' but genetically modified (GM) food is a big 'yes'.
The renowned professor at Yale University thinks biofuels 'cannot be
the solution' the mankind is looking for.

'There is no indication that biofuels can ever substitute fossil
fuels,' Altman said in the keynote address at a Confederation of Indian
Industry (CII)-organised interaction on 'what business and society can learn
from basic research' here Saturday.

Pointing out that as of now, biofuel costs more than petrol in many
countries, he said though biofuel 'sounds like a good idea but scientific
data do not support it (as a cheap alternative to fossil fuel).

'Biofuel is not the answer' to petrol and, moreover, it can scale up
prices of wheat, maze and milk in every country, he warned.

Talking of cloning, Altman was even more definite. 'I am against
anything (scientific development) that will promote a complete human clone',
Altman said.

He said he was okay with cloning the human skin and 'there is some
bone cloning being tried, but the question is can we clone a heart or a
kidney?

'Cloning is a very complex process and to clone a heart scientists
have to clone different micro-processes that take place in the heart. It
might work with animals but with a human? I don't know', Altman said.

He, however, supported GM foods, attributing the success of food
self-sufficiency in developing countries countries to the new technology.

China, India, Australia and Singapore were doing well in biotechnology
research, Altman said, adding that 'a good education' was the bedrock for
industrial development.

Calling upon the Indian industry to 'provide education opportunity to
everyone in society', Altman said 'this trip of mine to India will be
worthwhile' if India's industrial houses contributed towards this goal.

'Everything we do in biotechnology and biology related to industry
comes through knowledge of basic science. There is no way you can make a
contribution to industry without knowing the basic science.

'You must understand the biology happening today and what relevance it
has to our lives, only then can you make a partnership with business
houses,' Altman told the scientists and industrialists among the select
gathering.

Altman received his Nobel Prize in Chemistry for discovering the
catalytic properties of the RNA (ribonucleic acid which is the transcription
protein in chromosomes) in 1989, which he shared with Thomas R. Cech.

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