From David Stevenson, University of Leicester
Colin Tudge asserts that scientific discoveries such as penicillin would have been given the green light under the precautionary principle (17 May, p 23). However, this is accepted with hindsight. Yes, drugs such as penicillin would, were the benefits known in advance, be blindly accepted. However, in an era where mass media can spread myths quickly, scientific rationale is often rapidly lost.
Can we really be certain that the benefit of any scientific discovery would win through the tide of speculation and hype? Anyone with an agenda can spread misinformation, quickly prejudicing arguments. We all recall the images of strawberries with fish eyes when GM crops first came to light.
Leicester, UK
