Re: SOC/ECON: Critique of the anti-globalists

From: Alex F. Bokov (alexboko@umich.edu)
Date: Fri Jun 29 2001 - 08:59:46 MDT


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On Fri, 29 Jun 2001, Brian D Williams wrote:

>
> >From: hal@finney.org
>
> >How are you going to label that? There may be dozens of gene
> >tweaks in there, plus there is probably still going to be
> >old-fashioned hybridization and cross breeding as well. Short of
> >providing a complete genetic analysis of every ingredient in your
> >food there is no way you're going to be able to clearly describe
> >the manipulations.

> Genetic engineering and crossbreeding are completely different
> things. No amount of cross breeding is going to introduce genes
> that are not already within the species, not even so called
> directed evolution to induce somoclonal variation.

Well, if I may nitpick, a virus that infects multiple species
could theoretically transfer functioning genetic material from
one to another. The likelihood of that happening, especially with
genes that humans happen to find useful, is pretty low I'll grant
you that.

> Labeling doesn't have to be difficult, as Harvey has pointed out in
> numerous excellent posts today, we're not talking warning labels
> here.
>
> GMO: corn type XXXXX

That's the ticket! This reminds me of a thread a few months back about
the genetic equivalent of open source. I certainly wouldn't mind being
able to debug my soybeans and oranges and submit my patches back to
the gene bank...

- --

Linda Thompson DOD Special Forces
Why are the above words in my signature? Check out:
http://www.echelon.wiretapped.net

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