Daily Mail
(London)

A team of researchers based at Glasgow University is using knowledge gained from the study of fruit fly genes to construct a pesticide that discriminates between harmful and harmless bugs.

Such a breakthrough could bring huge benefits to farmers who currently have to blanket spray their fields to get rid of only a few pests.

Campaigners have long complained that this process spoils the countryside by killing bees and other insects which pollinate flowers and plants.

Professor Wayne Davies, chief executive of Glasgow University-based company Neuropa, said: 'We will be looking at a huge range of compounds over the next few years to develop a new range of insecticides and drugs.

'Previously insecticide sprays have been used to blanket areas killing all insects. But our research will lead us into an area where we will be able to pinpoint specific species leaving all insects not targeted alive.

'Another major problem is resistance to pesticides, but these new products will be different. They will be molecular pesticides and will help rotation become easier as previous problems will be eradicated.' The team are now creating a 'what does what' guide to the newly discovered gene base.

Professor Davies added: 'Gene-based discovery is the future of pharmaceuticals. We aim to be major players in this fast-growing field.'

Scientists at Glasgow and St Andrews universities joined forces in 1996 to form Neuropa, Scotland's first functional genomics company.

The company has already received $1million from investment capital group 3i, but hope later this year to raise up to another $10million through venture capital.