Can't believe: No genetic corn thread?

[CerberusIV]

There is an article on the BBC website that I was reading a few days ago about how in India they have pirated a Monsanto cotton GM variety by crossbreeding with the local strain. It may not be quite as good but it is a lot cheaper.

If they can pirate CD's and computer software despite all the protection then someone will figure out how to pirate GM crops and undercut the big corporations.

[JCG]

Nothing against genetically modified crops per se....but they shouldn't be forced upon other countries in any manner that the USA/anyone else sees fit (though not accepting food aid when your people are dying of hunger is a bit too extreme, can't agree with that). Still, in the future this will likely end up being a necessity....

[Japher]

Show me a crop that has not be genetically altered, and I will show you a crop that could never be grown in quantities to supply the worlds increasing population.

All food has undergone genetic modifications at some point in history.

[Az]

Originally posted by Ecthelion
some plants produce toxic substances, and are therefore not recommanded to eat. maybe genetically engineered tomatoes can produce similarly toxic substances, too. just maybe, I'm no friggin microbiologist, which you'd have to be.

You have to know what you engineer. Then you test your product.

Azazel, you're a chemistry freak, but you know so am I, and we both know our knowledge is not sufficient to tell.

We'll I am taking a couple of biology courses.

They genetically engineered tomatoes, before. we eat them nowadays. what did they do? they made them mroe stable elst they're mud when we get home. the price we paid? they taste like water now. that's Dutch tomato. if you're rich, you get Italian tomatoes, tastier and only slightly more prone to become mud.

that's because they water them too much. You don't think that they genetically engineered them not be tasty, do you? Most chances are, that only traditional GE was used, aka selective breeding.


If taste can disappear, new taste can appear, toxic acids can appear, everything can happen. And we just don'T know how well-tested those products are. [/QUOTE]

[VetLegion]

From what I understand, allergies are one of the more visible problems. Some people can for example have allergic reaction on good that has been engineered, and even die. That is why corporations have already withdrawn some products (fear of law suits I guess, not humanism)

And the most revolting practice in genetic engineering is the self-destructing seed and other methods of rendering plants incapable of reproducing. That shit is so evil it should be forbidden by UN, EU, Pope and everyone else, in the name of Sanity.

[Japher]

Forget the whole corn thing; what about the bananas!!!

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Really, all the GE stuff needs to be approved by the FDA or other local governing body monitoring the health risks of such foods. If you don't trust them then I recomend you don't eat anything and drink nothing.

[VetLegion]

All food has undergone genetic modifications at some point in history.

Yeah, but crossing corn and fish is radical enough intervention to warrant a discussion, don't you think?

[VetLegion]

If you don't trust them then I recomend you don't eat anything and drink nothing.

How about this? Have GM food stamped, so one can choose? US is being a ***** about this.

[VetLegion]

Originally posted by Azazel
Say Werna, is those seeds are so bad, why would people buy them?

Why do people all over the world use them?

If the poor people in Africa want to use them, let them use them.

People of Africa have no choice. Really, EU with all its power is being on the defensive in this issue, and you expect African countries to show teeth?

Remember Mad Cow Disease? North Koreans asked for cows not to be destroyed but sent to them instead. Does that make mad cows a healthy food? Or does it mean Koreans had a choice?

[Q Classic]

it means that they were so desperate for food that they didn't care where it came from.

now, if these companies are donating lots of gm seeds and those seeds are being rejected, what does it say about their food crisis?

[Sandman]

I question whether genetically modified crops are genuine inventions, and worthy of patenting rights. Unless a company invents a completely new gene (perhaps including a genetic copyright composed of redundant DNA), of course. But rearranging what is widely available is not invention, in my view.

I don't care about the terminator gene either. After all, anti-GM folk complain that the genes will spread; the termionator gene prevents this. It's never been used outside of laboratories anyway.

[VetLegion]

I don't care about the terminator gene either. After all, anti-GM folk complain that the genes will spread; the termionator gene prevents this. It's never been used outside of laboratories anyway.

Are you sure?

[Az]

Actually, it IS feasible to invent a new gene.

But what the companies are doing is not inventing new genes, but sort of patenting the use of a gene, that currently exists.

Anyway, I think it's bull****.

[Japher]

They shouldn't be able to the patent the use of a gene in a specific way, more so they should patent the application process of that gene to the new species. I really don't think that should be able to patent the use of a gene (the should just keep quite of which gene it is).

It would be like me trying to patent the use of stick for beating a dog, or the use of water for bathing instead of showering...

Did they really patent the use of a gene?

[Az]

It seems so.