You should pay a little more attention to the argument; the point you're responding to had nothing to do with domestication anymore.
True, but I was making a comparison to domesticated organisms, neither arises naturally. Well, I guess that's a point that maybe if something is entirely dependent upon humans it could still be considered to arise naturally if humans didn't intentionally bring it about. Eh, words have various meanings to different people.
Flavor is a fairly complex trait, most likely too complex for the limited ability of genetic engineering, which can only add a few small genes at most. There are likely hundreds of genes that will affect the flavor, so genetic engineering is useless for anything more than the most subtle changes in flavor. However, marker-assisted breeding (as mentioned in the article) is quite useful in this respect, as long as you have something to start with.
Have you have ever had an apple, or an orange, or avocado, or grapes, or such? Chances are that if it had a variety name (i.e. Washington apples, Hass avocados) that it was a genetic clone, nearly completely lacking in genetic variety (there are always mutations, so they aren't all exactly genetically identical).
Actually, it now looks like man did not deliberately domesticate wolves; instead, wolves simply evolved to be more docile and compatible with humans because it was advantageous for their survival.
Domestication doesn't occur intentionally.
Yes, it makes a big difference: genetic engineering can create organisms that have a negligible probability of arising naturally.
Any domesticated organisms inherently have negligible probability of arising naturally. They depend on humans and vice versa. Many cultivated plants have such features that prevent their survival in the wild as shallow roots that require frequent watering and seeds that do not easily disperse.
Marker-assisted selection and genetic engineering have different uses, both important as new diseases and problems arise. Marker-assisted breeding works fine for a trait that is already present in a species and/or closely related species, but you need genetic-engineering to intergress traits not present. Another catch to genetic engineering is that you can only add a few genes with it. Also, rotating crops cannot prevent every type of pest and disease, and in order to protect against them and maintain certain crops you'll need to resort either genetic engineering or MAS.
Of course, landraces are also good for their regions though they don't have the same high yield as most modern cultivated lines.
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You should pay a little more attention to the argument; the point you're responding to had nothing to do with domestication anymore.
True, but I was making a comparison to domesticated organisms, neither arises naturally. Well, I guess that's a point that maybe if something is entirely dependent upon humans it could still be considered to arise naturally if humans didn't intentionally bring it about. Eh, words have various meanings to different people.
Flavor is a fairly complex trait, most likely too complex for the limited ability of genetic engineering, which can only add a few small genes at most. There are likely hundreds of genes that will affect the flavor, so genetic engineering is useless for anything more than the most subtle changes in flavor. However, marker-assisted breeding (as mentioned in the article) is quite useful in this respect, as long as you have something to start with.
What about the choice to have a genetically modified crop?
Have you have ever had an apple, or an orange, or avocado, or grapes, or such? Chances are that if it had a variety name (i.e. Washington apples, Hass avocados) that it was a genetic clone, nearly completely lacking in genetic variety (there are always mutations, so they aren't all exactly genetically identical).
Marker-assisted selection and genetic engineering have different uses, both important as new diseases and problems arise. Marker-assisted breeding works fine for a trait that is already present in a species and/or closely related species, but you need genetic-engineering to intergress traits not present. Another catch to genetic engineering is that you can only add a few genes with it. Also, rotating crops cannot prevent every type of pest and disease, and in order to protect against them and maintain certain crops you'll need to resort either genetic engineering or MAS. Of course, landraces are also good for their regions though they don't have the same high yield as most modern cultivated lines.