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."

Comments

Killer App: Pets

[PedanticSpellingTrol]

I've always thought the ultimate use of genetic engineering would be to make puberty-free, Permacute puppies and kittens. Not only is it a lucrative market, there wouldn't be worries about the altered genes entering the natural ecosystem because of the sterility.

Re:Killer App: Pets

[TiggertheMad]

I've got an even better one: GM housecats to look like tigers, cheetas and leopoards. How much would you pay for a housecat that looked exactly like a bengal tiger?

Interestingly enough, this also might stop some of the hunting for great cats in the wild. Why risk jail time when you can just breed and skin housecats? In the long run, it would also help destroy the appeal of rare furs, as if people live with the animals, I think they emphasize with them to a greater extent. (for example, most people would think you were psychotic if you tried to sell them a dog skin coat. Is is because dog hair makes bad coats, or because they like dogs and would feel revulsion to the idea as a result?)

Your idea of GM kittens and puppies also has a major plus. By making them puberty-free, they are already fixed, reducing the problem of unwanted breeding and stray animals.

GM plants would be great, except ...

[RealAlaskan]

GM plants would be great, except for the threat they pose to farmers. That link takes you to a site about a farmer who could lose his farm because Monsanto carelessly allowed their patented GM canola to contaminate his fields.

Monsanto's GM canola has also crossbred with Canadian canola strains, making it impossible for Canadian farmers to guarentee that their canola crops are GM free, thus locking them out of the EU markets. Now, they want to do the same thing with wheat.

Leaving aside the fears and marketability problems surrounding GM plants, we still have the problem that patented plants are a huge threat to farmers. You can get in big, expensive trouble if you didn't license the genes that are growing in your field, even if you didn't plant them. If you save your own seed, and that seed gets contaminated by someone's patented, GM genes, you could loose a lifetime of work.