[DIYbio] Re: Help for thesis: american law regulating research

That might be taking the praise too far, because in *both* continents 
there is sometimes a distinct *lack* of caution. I cite as evidence the 
number of chemicals that are in use industrially for which little safety 
information is available, and the number of chemicals whose regulatory 
status remains very loose despite reams of evidence that they cause harm 
(bisphenol A, I'm looking at you). 

So, a little caution is OK. Technically speaking, the EU system is 
superior, if it were honestly implemented. That is, in EU each GMO must 
be independently considered for safety and responsibility, regardless of 
the "source organisms". So, you could use a restriction enzyme from the 
black death, and in principal nobody will bat an eyelid, because it's 
*just a restriction enzyme dammit*.