h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: How to Make A Genetically Modified Plant - A769089
Author: Ste - U172039

Ok. This has been kicking around my space for months doing nothing. It needs some work, but I'm not sure where so I need some input. Please .

Is it EG material? What needs improving or making more clear? Does it make sense?

Thanks

Ste

Definitely potential EG entry - we already have how to make an atom bomb, so why not how to make a GMO?

A few points - when you list some GMOs you might want to mention some of the weirder ones - for example a Dutch company has put in an application for the commercialisation of a GM blue Chrysanthemum... Also the only GM product ever to make any money in the UK was the GM tomatoes - they sold quite well before the public knew what a GMO was, but after the 1998 protests etc people stopped buying them.

I know you're not writing the article on the pros and cons of GM technology of such, but maybe you could encourage your future gene manipulators to leave out the antibiotic resistance marker genes and maybe think about the ethics of selling sterile seeds to farmers who have traditionally kept seeds from their produce for next years crop...

You could put a bit in on the regulatory regime or is it too boring?

Sprout

Hi Ste,

I like this a lot, and to be honest, I don't think you need to make many changes at all for the EG. There are lots of different ways to describe the process, but you've chosen to keep it simple, and it works.

Something that did strike me as I was reading, though, was that this all sounds a bit *too* simple. Perhaps it would be interesting to have more detail on what could go wrong and what the consequences might be (does the plant become poisonous? Does it grow three heads?) at each stage of the process.

Or maybe it really is that simple!


Gubernatrix

Hi sprout, thanks for commenting

"we already have how to make an atom bomb, so why not how to make a GMO?" Don't get me started

I could mention some more actual GMOs, you're right. I think the tomato's name was FlavrSavr, and had a downregulated ethylene biosynthesis gene so that it ripened slower meaning less wastage during transport. Apparently it tasted better too.

Blue chri.., chru.., , Chrysanthemum eh? Sounds good. I'll look into it in more detail, thanks

Yeah, it really is *not* about the pros and cons, more about what they actually are and give the basics on how they are made. Basically, because I don't think people know. Maybe I'm wrong...

"maybe think about the ethics of selling sterile seeds to farmers who have traditionally kept seeds from their produce for next years crop."
Even though the farmers knowingly entered into a contract and agreed to buy the seed. They can always *choose* to buy non-GMO seed. If it was being forced onto them and they had no choice then it would be an ethical issue.

Regulatory issues are a) dull and b) mysterious (i.e., I know nowt about it)

Thanks again.

Ste

Hi Gubernatrix (great name )

"I don't think you need to make many changes at all for the EG." Blimey, thanks...

"this all sounds a bit *too* simple"
I have never actually transformed a plant before, but the other day a collegue was in the middle of it. Do you know how she did it? She got the youngish plant (arabidopsis) which was in a pot about 6 inches in diameter and about 6 inches high and literally dunked its green bits in a solution for a few seconds. That was it!

"What could go wrong"
Hmm. I see what you mean. Perhaps I could explain that better. I could say that you transform a bunch of plants and see which ones are messed up (where the transgene has inserted into a native gene, thereby inactivating it, insertion is a random event). You can also use techniques to find out where exactly the transgene has inserted into the plants DNA.

Although, I was trying to make it all simple... Maybe I was too successful...



Ste

Absolutely nothing wrong with this entry at all. *Don't* start a debate off about the rights and wrongs of GM: we've been there before and it will only end up with a few people (not me) walking away with bloody noses. Instead, do what you're doing at the moment which is to demystify GM. Fear often arises from ignorance, and this article goes a fair way to pre-empting that issue.

Yeah FM, it is *not* about the ethics, and it *is* about demystifying . If someone wants to start an ethics thread at the bottom of the entry then that's fine

I can only find mention of a white GM chrysanthemum.

I haven't changed the entry yet, I haven't had time...



Ste

I might have been wrong about the colour of that flower - it's a four year old memory...

A small, but important point.

BT in this case does not stand for "botulinum toxin" (which is in fact extremely harmful for humans). I am uncertain at the moment what it stands for, since all my old lecture notes are currently 50 miles away, but I think it is in fact an abbreviation for some insect or other. Will let you know as soon as I have found out, though.

Bacillus thuringiensis??

that's the beast.

So it would in fact appear to be a bacterium, and not an insect.

A German bacteria even.

Ah! You're right. Thanks. I'll make that small change right away.



Ste

Alright. I've done some more changes.

I've improved the intro, which had a typo or two and some poor definitions.

I've given it a general polish-up

Added bit about GM flowers.

Improved Golden Rice paragraph.

Can I say "...as this increases the risk of unwanted interactions going on, such as toxicity or allergenicity."? Does it make sense?

Added to and improved "What's Next?"



Ste

It makes sense, but I'm not 100% convinced that 'allergenicity' is a word .

How about:

as this increases the risk of unwanted interactions going on, such as toxicity or allergenicity."?

"As this increases the chance of undesirable effects, such as making the end product toxic, or likely to induce allergic reactions"?

I think allergenicity is a word, but I'm going to take it out anyway.

The sentance you suggest is excellent, I'll make the changes.



Ste

Your Guide Entry has just been picked from Peer Review by one of our Scouts, and is now heading off into the Editorial Process, which ends with publication in the Edited Guide. We've therefore moved this Review Conversation out of Peer Review and to the entry itself.

If you'd like to know what happens now, check out the page on 'What Happens after your Entry has been Recommended?' at EditedGuide-Process. We hope this explains everything.

Thanks for contributing to the Edited Guide!

Blimey! Really?

Great job!

Gubernatrix

It's true! A well-written entry that is on its way to becoming part of the Edited Guide. It begged to be recommended, so it was.

Congratulations!