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Hey, just out of geeky interest. What are peoples opinions on GM crops in general and this news? It's just I'm in the field...not GM crops, but genetics, and I was wondering how people who don't have a scientific perspective on these issues feel about them. Anyone who is reading this journal feel free to jump in, or feel free to ignore the question entirely. I'm not trying to rope you into a nasty debate or anything, I'm just a geeky girl who is curious...
Quote from www.science.com (here:
"In late December, the European Commission
proposed new rules that would allow organic
foods to be labeled as such with up to 0.9%
accidental contamination with GM products or
seeds from neighboring farms or during processing.
Several consumer groups have vowed
to fight the proposal to protect what Friends of
the Earth Europe says are consumers who want
food free of “genetic contamination.”
Quote from www.science.com (here:
"In late December, the European Commission
proposed new rules that would allow organic
foods to be labeled as such with up to 0.9%
accidental contamination with GM products or
seeds from neighboring farms or during processing.
Several consumer groups have vowed
to fight the proposal to protect what Friends of
the Earth Europe says are consumers who want
food free of “genetic contamination.”
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From:
no subject
Most people don't realise that to a certain extent, most crops are GM (maybe not in the strictest definition, but hopefully you'll get my meaning). Selective breeding over the generations have created crops that are, essentially, GM.
Plus, with GM allowing much higher yield crops (such as rice), at a height on the ground that makes it easier to harvest, what is the problem? With the population that the world contains, and particularly the third world countries that will benefit from the higher yields, it's needed.
Sorry if this didn't make complete sense, I'm tired.
From:
no subject
Actually you make perfect sense! That's mostly my point of view too. In fact most modern crops weren't just selectively bred...they were mutated using radiation...then selected for the mutations that grew best or were most resistant. That I find scary, because while one mutation can be useful, it's possible the radiation has created many other mutations, some of which could be unhealthy. In that sense, GM is much safer...at least you know exactly what has changed.
Of course there are valid arguments against GM too. I just find it interesting as to what gets out to the public...
From:
no subject
Definitely. Didn't know about the use of radiation.
I actually think that the public probably knows very little about GM.
From:
no subject
Must have been facinating! *grin*
I actually think that the public probably knows very little about GM.
My impression too. That's why I'm interested. I think the few things that make it to the public either go...'eeeee! this is great!', or 'aaaarrgh! You're all gonna die!' and just confuse people.
From:
no subject
My teacher seemed to think that copying overhead, after overhead, after overhead, was the only way to learn anything.
Once, I brought a book I was reading in, and, because I write fast, I'd read while I waited for the next overhead to be put up. Made it slightly more bearable. I hadn't thought about that for awhile.
From:
no subject
Course I almost failed that unit, so maybe we should have been paying more attention. I remember 'bucky balls' and periodic tables...Bleh! *grin*
From:
no subject
I avoided chemistry at uni, 4 hour pracs with pre and post work from first year was not something I wanted to do.
From:
no subject
hehe. good move. I should have done some physics in yr 11 and 12. I think I might have done much better at it than chemistry...but there was the whole "2-physicists-in-the-one-family-is-enough-already" avoidance thing. I only did the chem units I had to do in order to do the molecular biology I was really interested in, but it almost killed. me! *insert mock dramatic faint*
Third time lucky...this is not my day :P
From:
no subject
I think I would have *died* too, doing chemistry.
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
I don't have a problem with genetically modified crops/food/whatever for a lot of the reasons
(This is, of course, coming off the first two chapters of "Brave New World" for English. Take it how you will.)
From:
no subject
Worries the hell out of me too! I haven't read Brave New World, but the name rings bells.
From:
no subject