genetically modified organisms

[Capt]

http://www.expressnews.ualberta.ca/article.cfm?id=7308

discuss

[Ryan]

discuss

k:

:lock:

[iha]

i read about half of it and had to stop

i just took an 8 page genetics test yesterday.................. ive had enough for a while eek

it seemed to be more about a court case than genetics though

[Tzarina]

I actually do my best to avoid eating GMOs...

messing with genes creeps me out... I don't want a fish gene in my fucking tomato... evolution is fine without the interfering hand of man... PERIOD!

And yes... I do know all the 'pro' and 'con' arguments... but this is a concise post of me saying "LEAVE MY FUCKING TOMATOS ALONE!"
:dammit:

[bdf]

"There is no co-existence with a GMO gene - it's the dominant gene," he said. "It gets into whatever plant life there is around it and takes over."

And that's the REALLY scary part of the whole thing. I remember seeing something about this guy on Austin cable access about a year or so ago. More power to him, I say... there's no telling WHAT kind of stuff is in anything that's been genetically modified.

[Person]

Well it all depends on what genes are placed in the plant. Obviously genes control which proteins are made, and sometimes there's the remote possibility that the protein made will have a negative side effect on the consumer. Highly unlikely.

Another little thing, although unlikely, is that the genes are there for more resistance to weed killing chemicals, which may not affect the plant, but could be passed on through to the consumer.

In any other case, it is perfectly acceptable and safe to eat a GM product. I mean jesus, we're going to be EATING DNA! ZOMG! No one has ever done that before...

Sometimes the gene will have an adverse affect on the environment - ie: killing bugs and stuff that come near the plantation, could be passed onto predators of those organisms, in the name of profitability. That could be a problem; thus measures are taken to at least dampen the effect on the environment.

I'm actually about to start learning genetics at university next week :up: (well I have been, but the course I'm taking is directly involved with this topic now).
Should be interesting!


edit:
Just read the article, and all I can say is that that is gay. I would be thinking there would be more strict controls and such on the company's products. And controlling the genes does actually allow you to make organisms infertile, meaning no cross-pollination is possible.. though that's a but more tricky than adding a couple of genes.

As long as reckless attitudes such as what was in that article are abandoned, I don't see a single problem.

I could dissect this further but I really cbf and don't think it's worth it.

[Tertius Oculum]

I remember a cartoon, where Giant Mutant Tomatoes ate people.

I'm scared.

[B]

tomatoes have been genetically altered with fish genes to make their outer skin tougher. Its been used for years.

[Tertius Oculum]

Yeah, till one day they get hungry... FOR FLESH. Then they start growing bigger and bigger and get sharp teeth and start eating HUMANS!

[james]

tomatoes have been genetically altered with fish genes to make their outer skin tougher. Its been used for years.

Yeah, I mean, I knew that years ago. You're not the only one who like, knows, you know.