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GM DNA Spreading...

Posted by michael on from the plague-famine-and-pestilence dept.

Raphter writes: "Frightening study on GM crop genes spreading to wild plants. Original [subscription required] is here." The best part is the farmers who have been sued because plants on their land showed traces of this same DNA, and the agriculture giants alleged the farmers must have planted them.

3 of 29 comments (clear)

  1. Teosinte by DaoudaW · · Score: 4, Interesting

    One of the saddest things about this story, is that the genetic purity of Teosinte, the proto-maize, is being threatened. Modern corn relies on modern ag techniques, but teosinte manages to survive just fine in the wild. To survive in the wild takes much more genetic diversity and resistance to all types of pests and competition. Don't want to lose them goood genes.

  2. Interesting, the GM reaction, a little PR please by monkeyserver.com · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It's quite interesting the reaction you get when you throw genetically modified into something. People's corn have been cross polenating for thousands of years, and ppl have been performing Genetic Selection on the varieties they plant as well. This probably the most basic form of Genetic Manipulation, but it is a form.

    Now that science can do more sophisticated forms of this everyone flips out. I do see that the possibility of danger is higher, but everything that the scientists do can (and possibly has) occur in nature.

    I do agree that testing needs to be done, but more importantly ppl need to be informed that these scientists are trying to improve products, not make gross odities. They are taking a random act (evolution) and trying to direct it towards a productive end.

    --
    http://monkeyserver.com --- weeeeee
  3. Adding to the pool threatens diversity? by Jerf · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Somebody help me. Adding genes to the pool threatens diversity?

    We're all computer people here. Genes are genes, there's no magical "man-made" marker that makes them evil. (Some protesters think there is. I consider them idiots. Other protesters have better reasoned opions. I listen to them.) The gene won't spread to the whole population unless it enhances survivability, and even then, it probably won't get to ALL the plants.

    Massive dieoffs of particular genes happen all the time, and is part of "evolution".

    I don't understand the panic, unless you have the unfounded "man made genes are somehow automatically evil" idea. Genes have been transferring amongst life forms since the invention of viruses at least.

    Then again, I'm a rational environmentalist, not a reactionary one. I've never understood the reactionaries.