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Genetically-Modified Everything
BreadMan writes "The Economist has an interesting article about how the use of GM (genetically modified) plants extends well beyond the food industry. Altered trees that make better paper, insect-resistant cotton, potatoes that contain the right kinds of starches. An interesting read to see where the industry is going in light of problems with having GM foods on the dinner table. There's more industrial uses for agricultural products than you'd think of right away, so this may be a lucrative use for GM technology."
Just ask Gregor Mendel.
You misspelt 'hemp'
GM plants can be VERY beneficial if modified correctly. This crop can be used as a fuel source, replacing oil-based gasoline. Get the yield high enough my GM'ing, and it becomes a great replacement - less pollution, more energy independence on any country capable of producing crops, and an industry that may finally get agriculture off the government dime.
I'm a little concerned about how the goal of most GM projects, that I know of, is to modify something so that it most benefits humans. Isn't that a bad idea? I mean, I know we're at the top of the "food chain," and we're clever and everything, but the world works because of cycles -- life and death; mutual symbiosis in one capacity or another. What if we modified everything and then we were suddenly rendered extinct? I have a feeling that if scientists tried to figure how to make a given organism more beneficial to its entire environment, they would come up with no major alterations.
I don't thing GM things are any more or LESS dangerous than nuclear research. If we allow corporations to do as they please, they will find the easiest way to maximum profits.
This did not used to be so bad. But today the shortsightedness, or rather the self centeredness of the modern executive can be very dangerous to the publics health and the publics wallet.
I'm not against GM products, on the contrary. As population pressures grow in a seemingly exponential way we are going to need these things to survive. The planet can only do so much on its own.
But it's bound to happen eventually. We just need to be aware of the risks and weigh them against the benefits.
Forget about designer fruit...
There are bacteria that can generate small amounts of hydrogen gas. If genetic engineering can make these bacteria much better at this function, we will have very good renewable energy source.
Yes, we all believe you really were a geneticist. I mean, look, you almost spelled your former job title correctly! And "daffodils" you got wrong, in two different ways!
Your story makes absolutely no sense (why again were you splicing the genes of a daffodil with that of algae) and why was a beer maker doing GM work on chickens in the early 80's.
Nice try though. I'm sure you'll get up to about +4 Interesting until some mods actually ready your little tale.
I've just signed legislation that'll outlaw Russia forever. We'll begin bombing in five minutes.
Aren't cats already permacute large feline cubs? Bred by Egyptians to keep granaries clear of rodents? (I was told this was the reasons why cats like to run through closing doors and jump into boxes). And dogs are permacute wolve cubs adapted to various roles (retrieving, searching, attacking, guarding etc...).
Vintage computer adverts: http://www.vintageadbrowser.com/computers-and-software-ads
Shape mountains,
Create lakes,
Create 100% radioactive test envioronments
Observe radiated species mutations
Study human health.
Nukes are REALLY USEFUL THINGS. Industry's just chomping at the bit, looking for ways to make money off of em, too.
And just to get your children's thoughts rolling with the possibilities, we [of slashdot staff] will be hyping the uses of nuclear landscapes [for free].
Socially irresponsible? Inconsiderate? NOT AT ALL! We'll test it out in miniature scale, first, by giving sticks of radiated dynamite to monkeys, and releasing them in your city.
Thanks for the hype slashdot. No. I'm NOT disgusted.
"Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." -Jesus Christ The Lord's Prayer
That's not GM posing a threat, that's patent law and patent enforcement getting out of hand again. This is Slashdot, we should be able to differentiate between the technology and the poor policy decisions and laws surrounding it.
Yep. Until we get the patent laws fixed, GM plants carry that very real threat. It's not the plant's fault, and not the fault of the techniques which created it, but the threat is no less real for all that, and it definitely goes with the plant..
See what I've been reading.
Point, set, match and game.
the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
I'm not religious, so I'm not saying "Don't play God", but it is the height of arrogance for scientists to say they understand genetics sufficiently to control GM. Some GM stuff in labs can perhaps be controlled, but once modified geness are released into the RealWorld they are very difficult to control. The risk of doing bad things is great. We already see the effects of cross contamination of crops etc.
Funny how you say that they don't understand genetics, yet that is what they do for a living. I would venture a guess that they understand it just a wee bit better than YOU do. I also find the GM argument to be odd that people will say "You have to prove that it isn't harmful". To which scientists provide evidence that shows no harmful effects in studies. For some reason, that doesn't seem to be good enough. Sure, there is limited concern because for most of us, it is somewhat of an unknown. The idea of GM things are a little scary to us. But this is what they do. Your subject suggests that they don't understand their life's work. That is ridiculous.
You could almost liken it to the GPL. Don't release your software under the GPL, you don't know the ramifications of doing so. Don't treat GM products the way MS treats the GPL.
My beliefs do not require that you agree with them.
GM foods have been controversial partly because of the power that patented foods would give to companies like Monsanto. I fear these other organisms would be the same way...
A prev. poster likened this to open source and closed source and in this regard he is completely right (though it was modded funny rather than insightful) but it is worse than closed source software because it is aimed at replacing vital commodities with intellectual property rights.
LedgerSMB: Open source Accounting/ERP
EU's laws against GM are unreasonable. I'm not saying people shouldn't be concerned about what they eat, but to there isn't anything special about GM food. Nothing is totally safe and perfectly understood, even nature itself.
Fine, but put the blame where it belongs: the law, not the technology.As copyright owner of this comment, I authorize everyone to defeat any technological measure which limits access to it.
Please tell me this was a joke.
We on this planet really know so little about genetic crap...
Well, no, **YOU** really know so little.
Sadly, the case with GM is that it will be prevented by the hysterical uninformed and fearful ignorant masses. Just the same as with energy. We could have a world of efficient and modern nuclear power, but, no, everyone, even the supposed smart geek set, has to sit in their caves and wail at the moon and not open their eyes.
You all only listen to the whispers of agenda-driven boogeymen, and ignore the hard data of the truly informed. This is the shitpile world you deserve. I just wish I didn't have to deal with it as well.
I now return you to your dark, demon haunted world.
--- Ban humanity.
Lovely in theory, but the sole purpose of very first GM products on the market was to allow the manufacturer to sell more herbicide!
Not only that, but they then have the temerity to go and prosecute people who's fields have been contaminated by their products for patent infringement. They should be made responsible for clearing up gene flow. After all the bloody stuff is now immune to the conventional herbicides.
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