I was astonished to read Nancy Oden’s commentary (BDN, Sept. 30), which was a string of bizarre and blatantly incorrect statements regarding genetic engineering and the research and development initiative.

Let’s be clear about what the Nov. 3 referendum is about: Maine voters can invest in their economic future or fall further behind other states. The R&D bond under consideration as Referendum Question 1 will enhance Maine’s ability to compete in high technology fields such as Biotechnology. Contrary to Ms. Oden’s nightmarish distortion, biotechnology provides the means to produce safe, effective products and analytical tests without toxic side effects.

For this reason, biotechnology will be a principal growth industry of the 21st century, and Maine has the opportunity to be a part of it. Funds from the R&D bond will be used to increase biotechnology research capabilities at the University of Maine and the University of Southern Maine, which can contribute to growth of Maine’s economy.

Researchers at the University of Maine have used genetic engineering to develop novel vaccines to protect animals from disease-causing agents without prior exposure to the actual pathogens. Genetically engineered cells have been used to detect the presence of environmental toxins in our ground water, lakes and streams. Molecular techniques have been used to develop new, sensitive tests to screen for viruses, bacteria or fungi in potato seed stock, shellfish or salmon aquaculture pens. UMaine scientists use DNA-based techniques to assess genetic diversity in Gulf of Maine fishes and in the forest ecosytem. Further, UMaine researchers use molecular techniques to understand basic processes within cells, which are key to understanding phenomena such as ovarian cysts, heart arrhythmia and cancer.

Such innovative research can enhance our quality of life, and give rise to spin-off enterprises that can provide safe, well-paying jobs for Maine people. A growing number of biotechnology companies in Maine are contributing to the State’s economic expansion using bio-molecular techniques. One Maine company produces and purifies antibodies which can be dispensed in capsule form to provide passive protection again disease-causing agents, just like mother’s milk provides protective antibodies to infants. Another Maine company uses DNA probes to tract desired quality traits in animal breeding.

Yet another Maine company isolates and purifies specific human proteins which are the basis of kits for early detection of heart attack and certain types of cancer. The use of genetically-engineered cells to produce such “specialty proteins” allows efficient purification without risk of disease-agents which might contaminate animal tissues or human blood products. These are the kind of clean, high quality industry that we want to promote in Maine.

Biotechnology has made our lives better by allowing production in quantity of individual proteins with industrial or therapeutic value. It is hard to believe that Ms. Oden objects to life-saving products such as human insulin, TPA, clotting factors, and immune system regulators simply because they are produced by genetic engineering. Similarly, transgenic crops are simply normal plants which have been provided with the genetic information to synthesize one or a few extra naturally-occurring proteins.

Let’s be clear about the beneficial impact biotechnology research can have on the quality of human life, and how it can help Maine grow in the next century.

Michael E. Vayda is a professor and assistant director of the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station at the University of Maine in Orono.