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

Hi Sprout!

OK, what is is with ALT TAB? Whatever the trick is, it doesn't seem to work on a Mac.

Anyway:

for - http://www.indianexpress.com/ie20020311/ed2.html - OK, not the complete arguments for!

against - http://www.caduceus.info/News/newsgm.htm

Sprout,

As you know, I think the value of GM crops is unproven, and from the reading of people like Dr Moyra Bremner and Dr Mae-Wan Ho, could potentially be disastrous. Some food for thought.

http://www.ratical.org/co-globalize/MaeWanHo/

http://www.smcholden.charitydays.co.uk/gm/cgmbooks.htm

For and against - http://www.scientific-alliance.com/events_items/past_events/fields_of_the_future.htm

And here's an interesting one on the use of pesticides: http://www.safe2use.com/ca-ipm/02-12-05.htm

I've met Mae-Wan Ho, and wasn't impressed. For a scientist, she didn't strike me as very rigorous... But I probably shouldn't judge from first impressions.

The problems I see with GM crops are the following.

1)They further industrialise farming at a time when I think what we need is more organic, not more intensive farming.

2) They talk about the benefits of things such as golden rice, but spend most of their time on products that are linked to increased pesticide use etc.

But some of the arguments used by FOE and their like irritate me:

1) They confuse developed and developing world issues - terminator gene is a non-issue in the west as farmers no longer re-use seed from their own crops. Indeed it could be a good thing in that it could reduce contamination.

2) They go on about health issues, because they know this is what worries people - yet the evidence for health risks is super flimsy - Americans, Canadians are all eating processed GM crops all the time, and have been for years - yet no-one's getting sick - OK you could have a BSE style delayed effect, but due to what?

What are the aspects that most bother you about GM?

sprout

Hi sprout,

I would agree with you about the concerns about GM.

You may well be right that terminator genes are not necessarily an issue with non 3rd world countries, however if there is cross-pollination it may affect other types of crops.

The transgenic nature of GM means that there is no guarantee that the transgenic effect is contained, ie it could affect other species. As I understand it, the process to extract the genes and to implant them (probably not the right terms, I know) in the host (eg pig genes in tomatoes) means they may not be stable and could come out and into other plants. Horizontal gene transfer? It could mean super-viruses. I don't think they have been proved to be safe.

And I think it is interesting that mice given a choice avoid GM.

Me, I'm not eating them if I can help it. Mind you, I probably am in some form. Even if I choose organic food and as fresh as possible, when I go to a restaurant to eat, who knows what's in it.