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Scotts Testing Genetically Modified Grass

Posted by michael on from the roll-the-concrete-over-it,-to-try-to-keep-it-back dept.

Caseyscrib writes "There is an article on Yahoo! News that talks about how Scotts is testing a genetically modified version of creeping bentgrass, popular on golf course greens and fairways, that will be resistant to a common weed-killing chemical. Environmentalists have long opposed bioengineered crops of any kind, and fear that '...if it was to escape onto public land, we wouldn't know how to control it.' It is now in the final stages of approval."

6 of 454 comments (clear)

  1. How to control it... by nuclear305 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I can think of several ways of controlling such grass.

    1) Pour gas, light match
    2) Use barriers that most people already use to stop plant growth.
    3) Shovel.

    In all seriousness, sounds like those afraid of controlling it are just spreading FUD. If we can modify grass to resist weed killer, who says we can't also make it vulnerable to something environmentally friendly like cooking oil?

    1. Re:How to control it... by cdrudge · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Until an entire field is covered in it...then several...then a large township...etc. It's not a problem to kill a golf course green with a shovel or burning it, but are you going to do the same with fields and larger?

      Look up the history of Kudzu for an example of something that once was thought of a great idea, now everyone hates it.

  2. Cool by Grant29 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I'm all for getting a grass strain that will also work in my yard. I'd perfer a short grass that didn't need much mowing and also have weed prevention. That seems like it would be a hot seller, but then again Scotts also sells seed, fertilizers, weed products, etc. I have a feeling that they wouldn't want it to be availiable to the common man. If they did, they'd probably charge an arm and a leg for it.

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  3. Great, what we all need is resistant grass. by marcello_dl · · Score: 5, Interesting

    So they can pour that weed-killing chemical with no fear of damaging the golf course. But, what about me? I haven't been genetically reengineered, I guess that too many chemicals around may affect me somehow.

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  4. Two Problems by thorgil · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Basically two problems:

    1. Modified grass spreads and become "Superweed".
    2. Modified genes spread to other species, either by hybridization or vectors such as bacteria. (Agrobacterium tumefaciens as an example)

    This is what opposers are afraid of. /Tobias

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  5. Un-american? by Z0mb1eman · · Score: 4, Interesting

    "We've been here since the 1970s. It would be un-American to be scared away," Harriman says.

    Say WHAT?

    I was fairly indifferent to both sides of the argument until I read that little gem at the end of the article.

    What in the world does being American have to do with any of this? What, in Mr. Harriman's opinion, is considered "American"? The goal of making money at any cost, without losing much sleep over considering consequences to the environment or to the society? That's what he seems to be implying... I'm not American, but if I were, I'd probably be outraged at a fellow American making a statement like that.

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