One way to stop traffic

[Chaos Butterfly]

Originally had a disclaimer to Eris and the image of the billboard posted, but chickened out when I saw the original post so you'll just have to click the link [img]redface.gif[/img]

Just thought I'd share. The anti-GM/GE (Genetically modified/enginneered) debate continues in New Zealand as the way forward with the rest of the world clashes with the clean, green NZ values.

Being a scientist myself I'm actually OK with it as long as strict controls and conditions for labelling of food are in place. As far a I'm concerned we've been slowly genetically modifying things the old fashioned way (selective breeding, cross pollinating) forever, so if they want to update the method OK. I am not into the crossing plant with animal genes tho it raises a few more issues. I am certainly for research that would help with any disease cures.

Anyway there is also strong opposition to it and today the following billboard went up in Auckland and Wellington to provoke debate over GM issues in particular Agresearch's designer milk project. (which I actually know a bit about as I worked with one of the Professor's who is part of it when I was doing a chemistry assignment at school).

I think it provoked a bit more than debate, including rude radio show discussions and probably one or two car accidents or at least near misses. [img]wink.gif[/img]

Here's the billboard

http://www.madge.net.nz/doclibrary/c...lbrd_large.jpg

For more info:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?thesection=news&thesubsection=&st oryID=3526385& reportID=53009

http://www.madge.net.nz/news/prel/pr_1oct.asp

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ October 02, 2003 06:07 AM: Message edited by: Chaos Butterfly ]</font>

[Ski]

Damn...from the thread title I thought we were gonna see YOU naked or something.....

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ October 02, 2003 06:37 AM: Message edited by: Ski ]</font>

[erisesoteric]

hmm...

On the one hand, no, the long term consequences of genetic engineering haven't been fully investigated.

On the other hand, the only way to determine the long term consequences is to continue research.

It seems like this group is saying "we don't know what it's going to do, so we want to stop it now."

[Branflakes]

I know I would've been in a car accident had I seen that while driving.


I'm pretty much with you, Chaos. I'm ok with the research continuing, but we have to be careful.

[Orenda]

There are only two arguements I've heard and understood against genetically modified crops. One is potentially having allergens pop up in foods where they weren't expected, but I don't know enough to know how likely or possible that is. I'm already frustrated with how impossible it is to determine the source of the ingredients in my food from the labels, which is important to me as I attempt to avoid things produced from dead animals. On the one hand, this could make it even harder. On the other hand, it's already encouraging stricter labelling, which would take care of any potential allergic reactions and also make me really happy.

The other is the potential for the crops to cross pollinate with wild strains, creating "superweeds" that can't be killed. They could potentially choke out their predecessors, narrowing the gene pool. That part is actually a bit scary.
Now, I need a disclaimer here. I'm an arts student. As much as I used to love my biology classes ( and I did), almost all useful knowledge gleaned from them flew straight out the window when I chose my major. So don't I'm mostly either talking out of my ass, or drawing on half-remembered conversations with people who know more than me.
That said, the solution to this problem seems remarkably simple and efficient. If you're making genetic modifications, while you're at it build in a recessive gene (or tie something to a recessive gene or however it works) that must be expressed in order for them to successfully reproduce. Meaning only two of the same species will produce viable offspring.
I suppose there could still be mutations, but no more than with wild plants.
There's still the problem of the plants breeding among themselves and still spreading and being hard to kill. I had the solution to that explained to me, but I forget what it is. Same principles. Genetically engineer them so that they can only reproduce under extremely specific conditions.

I find a lot of people tend to make some sort of leap in thinking that because the genetic stucture has been modified, and radiation can cause mutations too, these foods must contain some mysterious radioactive powers that are going to continue mutating them and maybe screw up the genes of the people who eat them.
I don't get how they can be dangerous to eat. Genes are made of the same basic building blocks no matter what order they're rearanged into. You're body doesn't care.
Perhaps I'm oversimplifying. I don't fully understand how our bodies use food.

Can anyone explain that arguement to me? Is there actually reason to worry?

I want to be a science student again.

[Neophobic Man]

Just remember, no matter how good something may or may not be for us, there will always be a group out there dedicated to opposing it...

[dwim]

yeah, like a coalition to ban coalitions.. right Jax?

[Neophobic Man]

Yeah...or like that great penultimate scene in PCU when everyone begins chanting that the "Are not going to protest!"...

[La Luna Unita]

I'm also not well informed about all the benefits or detriments genetically altered foods can give us, but also think about this on the side of the protesters (I'm playing devil's advocate here):

They may be concerned because of past problems with things like pesticides that were "safe" according to all the tests and such at the time. Years later, pregnant women are having babies with defects no one saw coming and all sorts of other health problems emerge. To people outside the well-informed and the scientific community, genetic altering can seem very scary because chemical altering had bad effects even though it was thought to be perfectly alright.

Personally, I couldn't care less as long as I can still get organic things - as long as they are still available to me, the rest of the world is welcome to make super-tomatos that contain 500 percent of your vitamin C intake. It may be the power of suggestion, but the organic milk I buy is the best-tasting thing I've ever had in this earthly life, and I wouldn't trade it's availability for anything. I think we've evolved enough as a society to have our cake and eat it too in this discussion - I certainly don't buy everything organic, because I don't have the money, but I take what I can get.

[Chaos Butterfly]

Hehe! A bunch of people stripped naked and lay on the lawn at Parliament spelling out NO GE, to show how vulnerable we would be if GE was allowed to go ahead. Don't ask me where the policemen were at this time, probably at lunch.