Lon fwd'd us all this item from the ARS News Service:
> Agricultural Research Service scientists are using a special
> genetic element from moths that "jump" between chromosomes to
> genetically change insects. This special element could enable
> scientists to create sterile insects for release into the wild to
> disrupt mating of pest populations. It also could help the
> scientists mark insect populations for better tracking and
> monitoring.
I have a couple questions:
1) Does anyone know more about this?
2) Has ARS ever heard of pollinators?
3) What would stop this gene from crossing into pollinators (say via
sexual reproduction if the mechanism failed in some subset of the
bioengineered species, but got passed along--a kind of insect
Terminator Gene)?
I am recently back from the Farmer Cooperative Genome Project
meeting (Salem, Oregon, two weekends ago), and hope to report to you
all on this next week, probably midweek. All I can say for now
is--this micro, or more accurately nano or pico, focus of the gene
jockeys reminds me of the pinhead angel focus of mediaeval
philosophers.
peace
misha
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Michele Gale-Sinex, communications manager
Center for Integrated Ag Systems
UW-Madison College of Ag and Life Sciences
Voice: (608) 262-8018 FAX: (608) 265-3020
http://www.wisc.edu/cias/
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