These days, biotechnology firms are striving to genetically engineer a whole range of things — including speeches in Congress.

As this N.Y. Times story observes, during the debate on reforming health care:

Statements by more than a dozen lawmakers were ghostwritten, in whole or in part, by Washington lobbyists working for Genentech, one of the world’s largest biotechnology companies.

... The lobbyists, employed by Genentech and by two Washington law firms, were remarkably successful in getting the statements printed in the Congressional Record under the names of different members of Congress.

Genentech, a subsidiary of the Swiss drug giant Roche, estimates that 42 House members picked up some of its talking points — 22 Republicans and 20 Democrats, an unusual bipartisan coup for lobbyists.

Congress does so little to instill trust. This revelation only offers more evidence that despite rhetoric to the contrary, ethical standards remain very low.