i think similarly to many others, i'm trying to get some handles for
grasping the genetic modification debate . . .
trying to put the article doug posted into some context, it seems to me that
we might distinguish several different types of modification that go beyond
classical breeding by selection . . .
1) one is where we identify an existing gene (or gene complex) with the
capability for altering organism development and we identify a chemical
substance which can be applied to modify the action of that genetic unit
while the organism is developing
2) a second is where we identify an existing genetic unit that has the
potential to modify organism development but whose action is being
suppressed by other parts of the genome, and we modify the genome so that
the suppression no longer occurs
3) a third is like the second, but we modify the existing genome so that the
suppression can be turned on or off by the application of chemical
substances during the development of the organism
4) beyond these three, there are the various kinds of genetic engineering
that involve putting new genetic material into the genome
my sense is that the news release doug posted was an example of (2), but
perhaps you can clarify that for me . . . i'm also wondering if you can
suggest any examples of (1) and (3), and if you can suggest how common are
each of (1), (2) and (3)
cheers,
craig
craig k harris
department of sociology
michigan state university
429b berkey hall
east lansing michigan 48824-1111
tel: 517-355-5048
fax: 517-432-2856
> ----------
> From: E. Ann Clark, Associate
> Professor[SMTP:ACLARK@plant.uoguelph.ca]
> Sent: Saturday 24 July 1999 10:17 AM
> To: sanet-mg@ces.ncsu.edu
> Subject: Re: easier to swallow?
>
> Douglas: is this not what traitor genes do? Turn off normal plant
> functions, and in such a way that they can be turned back on only by
> buying a proprietor product which just happens to be opened by the
> same company that sells the seed? Ann
> ACLARK@plant.uoguelph.ca
> Dr. E. Ann Clark
> Associate Professor
> Crop Science
> University of Guelph
> Guelph, ON N1G 2W1
> Phone: 519-824-4120 Ext. 2508
> FAX: 519 763-8933
> http://www.oac.uoguelph.ca/www/CRSC/faculty/eac.htm
>
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