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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."
Genetically modified /. editors who don't post duplicate articles.
Genes generally don't just "cross" into wild populations, so if the GM trees have unforeseen problems it won't affect any natural forests
From www.cen-online.org, this is from the 27-Sep-04 issue,
"A new study finds that genes from Roundup Ready creeping bent grass can travel at least 13 miles. The study validates the concerns of many scientists and environmentalists that the genetic alteration of some crops may not be contained and could thus spread widely to other domestic or wild plants.
The genetically engineered grass is being developed by Monsanto and Scotts as a turf plant for golf greens and fairways. Previous studies have found that crop genes flow only about 1,400 feet. The new work reveals the possibility that altered genes can, in fact, spread great distances. In the case of bent grass, there is a concern that herbicide resistance might spread to wild bent grass and other related species."
+++ATHZ 99:5:80
I have read a few stories both here on slashdot and linked to from slashdot that I have reservations on any GM plantlife... forget that, GM life at all.
The fact is, life cannot be contained 100%. If Jurassic Park didn't convince you, perhaps the CDC and all of those innocent victims of GM foods patent claims and lawsuits will.
One of those things need to change. Either patents on living things need to be removed from the patent system or they should be so tightly controlled that if an escape occurs, the owner bears the responsibility for its escape into the wild... and probably both.
We on this planet really know so little about genetic crap that it's truly frightening to me that we call this "mix and match" guessing game a "science" at all. And then when companies go around suing people for growing GM without the burden of proof that it was intentional, it's ridiculously frightening. What's more is the long-term effects such as those of the use of injecting hormones into dairy cattle to produce greater volumes of milk. It's not talked about enough how that is affecting the U.S. population but what I have read so far has been enough for me to avoid milk in large quantities and never in its "raw" and unprocessed state. (Homogenization isn't enough... what about all those hormones still floating in there?)
The links being formed between GM foods and increasing incidents of cancer and other maladies should be enough to bring extreme caution into play... caution that isn't being exercised here in the U.S. that is being exercised elsewhere in the world.
We're moving way too far and way too fast on some of this. As these genies are let out of their bottles, is there a plan in place for being able to put them all back? Because if these things can't be controlled once set into motion, then a great deal of liability should be placed onto the parties responsible... and I don't mean on mere corporations -- I mean the individuals who make these decisions!! (I'm sick of people hiding behind corporate entities in trying to sheild themselves from responsibility and liability.)
No concluding paragraph here... I've said enough.