Video & Multimedia

Last edited Sat Aug 2, 2014, 11:30 AM - Edit history (1)

1. Science should not be confused with technology. Science is a method of studying the universe, a question is raised, a method of testing that question is developed and then a test is made to determine the answer. If the question can be reduced to one variable, the answer can be found fairly simply. If not, further testing is required. A second step is to repeat the test to ensure that the results are accurate. But - experiments at best only answer the specific question asked.

2.Technology is based on the application of scientific results. Thus, while scientific findings enable us to insert genes into living organisms, they have nothing to say about whether or not that is a good idea.

3. Experience has shown that interfering with the environment often has unintended consequences. For example, after WWII, the use of DDT saved thousands of lives. It was safe to use around humans. However, no one had asked whether DDT would interfere with avian reproduction. If we are failing to ask the right questions about GMOs, we may find out too late that releasing them into the environment was a very, very bad idea.