GM food

[kj]

whats your views on this? Do you think its a good idea? Is there any reason for pursue this when the UK produces more food that it requires. Is it a good method to help resolve poverty and starvation issues around the world?

lemme hear what you gotta say.

[Chunderbunny]

Hmm hard one this

Don't think its a good idea yet, we don't know enough about genetics, and the OVERALL effect of modifying a gene. It's all well saying, we change gene x, are tomatoes will grow bigger. But is it known what other effects canging this gene have?

I'm not informed enough on the topic to make a specific decision, the above point is made on my *limited* knowledge of genetics. But then again, I don't see Government/Business being very forthcoming with the required information. Maybe they don't know themselves; a surefire reason NOT to GM anything...

History is checkered with humans doing stupid things, lots are mistakes are inevitably going to be made. Sad really, most of them are made in the name of money. Where I work, a nameless cash machine making company, there talking about using biometrics for ATM's. For those who don't know, biometrics are systems such as Iris recognition, face recognition and fingerprint scanners. There is vast amounts of research out there that say that these simply aren't up to the job yet, and have a LOT of work to go... Do companies heed this research? I'm sure a similar situation is present with GM.

My 2cents

[AlanG]

Well most of the research isn't being carried out on food plants its on commercial plants such as cotton, so you can see how "helping humanity" this effort is.

That being said, research should be carried out, but in isolation where contamination of native plants cant take place. What annoys me is the focus people put on "its playing God!!!11222 changing teh one plant!111" when its really gonna affect all the food chain.

Example with Golden Rice. *totally hypothetical* imagine theres some parasite such as locust that feeds on rice, Golden Rice has greater yield, healthier food for locust, locusts then not only become larger etc but have more/healthier offspring next generation leading to huge numbers of these parasites.

Changing one gene doesnt only affect that one species.

[kj]

ah but thats where you are wrong. From reliable sources, this is not how it works, greater yield doesnt necessarily mean healthier parasites and pests. Take for example research into nematode (worm like parasites, cats usually have em, threadworm, tape worm etc). well they also infect plants and crops. So, GM potatoes are modified in a way to not only be more resistant to pesticide, but also nematodes that might otherwise devestate crops

[Misanthropy]

Mankind has been genetically modifying crops and animals for hundreds of years. Selective/cross-breeding, taking cuttings from plants, agriculture in general. The whole basis of it is genetic modification. Just because we now have the capability to literally alter the genetic makeup doesn't mean it's any different from what we've been doing since farming was invented.

[kj]

ok guys, the people i work for.... have launched a new forum for discussion on issues just like this.

check it out here

i recommend putting your questions forward to them and they will answer em as best they can.

Note, i'm only their web dev, so dont pick on me.

[AlanG]

Originally posted by kj
ah but thats where you are wrong. From reliable sources, this is not how it works, greater yield doesnt necessarily mean healthier parasites and pests. Take for example research into nematode (worm like parasites, cats usually have em, threadworm, tape worm etc). well they also infect plants and crops. So, GM potatoes are modified in a way to not only be more resistant to pesticide, but also nematodes that might otherwise devestate crops

what I meant was that affecting one gene to increase yield, even if its by stopping attacks by one parasite may not affect attacks by another, so by them getting to feed more they then have a greater chance of successfully having offspring. What worries me is that one gene is changed because it affects one known variable but changing that one gene may completely change other things too.

[kj]

kinda like a domino effect?

[AlanG]

aye exactly, changing gene causes some parasite to die off, because of this, its main predator then has to kill more of organism A, which in turn preys on the SARS virus causing more SARS to survive meaning more of us getting SARS.

For an example or random unseen effects anyway but you get the picture.

[Degze]

i think its a good idea
they should try to get some vegtables to taste like mars bars but still have the goodness of veg!

[Rebelius]

surely you could just get flavourings an put 'em in salad dressing or are flavourings bad for ya?

[Degze]

got to remember GM is not new!
its been going on for hundreds of years
ie
hmm this tatty is big,but got no taste
this tatty has got great taste but its small
mix the together=big tasty tatty
happens naturaly aswell
cross breeding is a form of gm!

[AlanG]

no they are different, selective breeding uses two compatible species that can interbreed so basically "rushes" a process that can happen. GM usually crosses non compatible breeding species such as putting genes for glowing from a glowworm onto a carrot ot whatever, basically crosses that could not happen naturally.