Prince in 'anti-science' controversy

Prince Charles has provoked criticism from scientists, and praise from environmentalists, following his 'anti-science' comments in a Reith lecture broadcast on BBC Radio 4 last week. In it, he called for 'greater respect for the genius of Nature's designs.' This, he says, means not changing 'what Nature is, as we do when genetic manipulation seeks to transform a process of biological evolution into something altogether different'.

The main themes of the lecture were the welfare of the planet and the need for a return to spiritual values. If nothing is held sacred any more, then 'what is there to prevent us treating our entire world as some great laboratory of life, with potentially disastrous long-term consequences?' he asked. Tony Juniper, policy director of Friends of the Earth, said the Prince had hit the nail firmly on the head.

But Steve Jones, Professor of Genetics at University College, London called the Prince 'a classic woolly thinker'. 'He is mixing up theology and science. The best thing he should do is go back to school and do more A-levels' he said. Zoologist and author Richard Dawkins said the Prince's views represented 'a wholly unnecessary hostility towards scientific rationalism'.

Following his speech, the Prince has been asked to explain his views on GM (genetically modified) crops to the Commons Science and Technology all-party parliamentary committee. He has not yet replied to the invitation, although a statement issued by St James Palace said it would be 'unheard of' for a member of the Royal Family to appear before a select committee.

The Prince's speech came in the same week as the news that UK farmers have unwittingly grown acres of GM rape seed crops, using seed imported from Canadian firm Advanta Seeds. The government is to draw up new controls on the way GM crops are introduced to the UK.