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In reply to the discussion: Neil deGrasse Tyson on GMO food! [View all]hedgehog
(36,286 posts)genes already present in a population is the same as inserting new genes. For example, say I start with a population of rabbits, some long haired and some short haired. I can choose to breed long haired rabbits to long haired rabbits until I can be fairly certain that that given line contains only the genes for long hair. That's somewhat different from inserting a gene to give my long haired rabbits green fur that glows in the dark!
He does not address the problem that when plants are designed manufacture Bt toxins, the target insect populations are more likely to develop resistance to those toxins. Nor does he address the question of our long term exposure to those toxins.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_maize
He does not address the problem of keeping the new genes confined to particular plants, so we are already seeing Round up resistant weeds.
https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/GWC/GWC-1.pdf
He does not address the problem of modified animals getting loose and perhaps driving other animals to extinction.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AquAdvantage_salmon
He does not address the issue of mono cropping and its effect on the entire environment including the soil base. Somehow, the use of GMO techniques is considered "scientific", but organic techniques developed and evaluated using the scientific method are not. Technology is not the same ting as science.
http://www.fao.org/docrep/016/ap563e/ap563e.pdf
Most of all, he ignores the many times "science" has brought us something new and wonderful that turned out later not to be so wonderful. It took most of the 20th century to understand the hazards of exposure to radiation from various sources such as radium paint, X-ray machines, nuclear fallout, etc. As another example, consider the wildly varying advice on nutrition that scientists have given in the last 70 years. Reporters who went back to study the original research found out that the accepted advice to avoid cholesterol and fats had more basis in strong personalities than in actual experimental results!
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/opinion/27taubes.html?_r=0
Understand, I am not recommending a return to the Bronze Age, but rather some humility and caution when using a new technology.We have found out over and over again that it is easier to let the genie out of the bottle than to put it back in! It makes sense to move ahead slowly and carefully.