On Mon, 13 Mar 2000 10:03:08 -0600, E. Ann Clark wrote:
>It is also important to recognize that the process - not just the projects - of
>genetic engineering appears to engender inherent and unavoidable risks of gene
>expression, owing specifically to a) the randomness of transgene packet
>insertion in and among chromosomes, and b) the generation of unintended and
>unpredictable gene:gene and gene:environment interactions.
I would suggest (for purposes of discussion) that we ought to consider
certain categories of GMOs acceptable, right from the start:
a) all *intra*-species transfers
b) all GMO fermentation technology
c) probably ... intra-genus transfers
My logic is that there is little risk from any of these categories, the
chief benefits being relative speed of some transfers and the avoidance
of undesired secondary characteristics.
For example, there is probably some BB-sized tomato somewhere in Peru
that carries Alternaria resistance. It would probably be many many
generations before the size problem is overcome via conventional
breeding, during which time the normal spray routine in Florida would
remain 25-45 fungicide applications in a 26-week production cycle (one
per week, routine, plus one after each rainfall of an inch or more). As
organic fungicides are at least as bad as the conventional ones, such a
GMO transfer offers substantial benefit.
If anyone knows of risks associated with intra-species (or intra-genus)
GMOs, please educate us. At least for now, I'm not convinced that GMOs
in these situations are any worse than routine use of colchicene to
trigger genetic mutations in conventional breeding.
Bart
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