Originally posted by KazetNagorraOne big danger is the problem that genetically modified plants are essentially clones and thus share a common gene pool, and each new generation will have essentially the same gene pool as opposed to plants reproducing in the wild where each new generation has a slightly different gene mix.
What are the dangers specifically?
Originally posted by sonhouseBut then they can just switch to a different crop, no?
One big danger is the problem that genetically modified plants are essentially clones and thus share a common gene pool, and each new generation will have essentially the same gene pool as opposed to plants reproducing in the wild where each new generation has a slightly different gene mix.
The problem with that is if a virus or other kind of blight hit ...[text shortened]... GM plants, the entire crop will be killed and people could starve not having enough foodstuffs.
Originally posted by sonhousewhy would a GM crop necessarily be all clones? most are not. But even for the few that are, with all else being equal, the probability of a disease wiping out a whole crop that consists of all clones should not be much higher than one that does not consisting of clones. A huge amount of emphasis is usually placed on the importance of genetic variability in crops in preventing them being wiped out by disease which is not backed up by the evidence. I am an experienced farmer and farm laborer and have a C&G qualification in the science of it and I have seen whole tomato crops wiped out by blight which were not all cones thus them having genetic variability didn't help much there! And I have seen numerous examples of the same thing occurring to other crops. Even if there is the odd tomato plant that was resistant to the blight, if 99.99% of the crop is wiped out for not having resistance then it doesn't make much difference.
One big danger is the problem that genetically modified plants are essentially clones and thus share a common gene pool, and each new generation will have essentially the same gene pool as opposed to plants reproducing in the wild where each new generation has a slightly different gene mix.
The problem with that is if a virus or other kind of blight hit ...[text shortened]... GM plants, the entire crop will be killed and people could starve not having enough foodstuffs.
Originally posted by PhrannyFirst of all there are many many GMOs out there, are they all risky, or just some?
I believe the dangers posed by genetically modified food products is our greatest current risk.
Originally posted by Phrannythe link does not show what the scientific evidence is of this claim of toxic effects. I have tried googling it but found no references to this evidence which makes me wonder if it really exists or is this just the usual crazed vindictive environmentalist propaganda against the chemical industry and GM we get from time to time?
I believe the dangers posed by genetically modified food products is our greatest current risk. Please go to www.responsibletechnology.org. On the menu hit GMO Education, Fraud or Autism for more information. I urge you all to take a look especially if you or a loved one is interested in starting a family or if you have children. 50 countries, including Fran ...[text shortened]... ermany and Italy have banned or estricted GMO's, while the U.S. doesn't even require labeling.
Originally posted by sonhouseThis applies to all crops, to the extent that it is true ie GMO plants are not clones, they are not produced vegetatively, and no large scale food crops "reproduce in the wild".
One big danger is the problem that genetically modified plants are essentially clones and thus share a common gene pool, and each new generation will have essentially the same gene pool as opposed to plants reproducing in the wild where each new generation has a slightly different gene mix.
Originally posted by humysorry, misprint: No idea how my edit went so idiotically totally wrong there but the start of the second paragraph should have been:
the link does not show what the scientific evidence is of this claim of toxic effects. I have tried googling it but found no references to this evidence which makes me wonder if it really exists or is this just the usual crazed vindictive environmentalist propaganda against the chemical industry and GM we get from time to time?
Can you give a direct link to th ...[text shortened]... potato varieties now be dangerous to health as a result of being GM in that way? Please explain.
Originally posted by humyNo it doesn't, because evolution does not have a mind and can not engineer anything.
sorry, misprint: No idea how my edit went so idiotically totally wrong there but the start of the second paragraph should have been:
"in addition, I should point out that ALL living things are genetically engineered! By evolution! ....."
there, that makes sense now
Originally posted by PhrannyI think if you like chocolate bars / processed food in packets there is room for GM ... the box is very processed so why not the plants -
I believe the dangers posed by genetically modified food products is our greatest current risk. Please go to www.responsibletechnology.org. On the menu hit GMO Education, Fraud or Autism for more information. I urge you all to take a look especially if you or a loved one is interested in starting a family or if you have children. 50 countries, including Fran ...[text shortened]... ermany and Italy have banned or estricted GMO's, while the U.S. doesn't even require labeling.
Originally posted by e4chrisI don't see much point in labeling food as GM because that would mean labeling ALL foods as GM because ALL food is GM because what GM was not done by man was done by evolution! And what about GM by selective breading? should foods that have been selectively bread all be labelled as GM because of this? I don't see any reason why we should totally arbitrary distinguish between a gene that was put there by man and a gene that was put there by evolution. Is the hand of man so cursed that a magical force makes any gene we either make or transfer to something more dangerous in some way than genes made by nature? if so, I like to know how so.
I think if you like chocolate bars / processed food in packets there is room for GM ... the box is very processed so why not the plants -
I don't see them being a risk to health at all. The only risk is having nothing but GM but that won't happen in the UK and would be almost impossible in france where they are even more pikey..
I think it should requi ...[text shortened]... ng though - not doing so is going down a bad road where companies will use anything in food...
Originally posted by e4chrisI would be against labeling food if it contains GM products, because it is misleading for the consumer, since it would suggest GM products pose a health hazard, and in general they do not.
I think if you like chocolate bars / processed food in packets there is room for GM ... the box is very processed so why not the plants -
I don't see them being a risk to health at all. The only risk is having nothing but GM but that won't happen in the UK and would be almost impossible in france where they are even more pikey..
I think it should requi ...[text shortened]... ng though - not doing so is going down a bad road where companies will use anything in food...
Originally posted by KazetNagorraNo no, you must label it, people have the right to pick what they eat, Some people don't want additives , GM , gluten even they need that right, when you have x million folks some will have serious allergies to things or simply not want them.
I would be against labeling food if it contains GM products, because it is misleading for the consumer, since it would suggest GM products pose a health hazard, and in general they do not.
I do favour labeling for things that do pose significant health risks, like high sugar or salt content, or things that some people are allergic to, like gluten or lactose.