From D. L. J. QUICKE
Jeremy Webb reports on the discovery of a genetic variant of Factor
VII that leads to reduced blood clotting in some 20 per cent of men, and
may therefore lead to methods of reducing coronary heart disease (New Scientist,
Science, 29 June). It seems to me, however, that evolution has probably
provided us with very effective Factor VII to minimise the risk of bleeding
to death. It is reasonable to suppose that deaths due to bleeding, at least
in some parts of the world, are not insignificant.
Perhaps, therefore, before genetically engineering some universal reduction
in Factor VII efficiency, it would be prudent to assess as accurately as
possible any increased risks that might also accrue.
D. L. J. Quicke School of Biological Sciences University of Sheffield
