From: Jonathan Reeves (JonathanR@mail.iclshelpdesks.com)
Date: Tue Jun 01 1999 - 10:48:26 MDT
Anders Sandberg writes:
> This is really an area where the good side of biotech can be
> demonstrated. Anybody saying we should not spread genetically modified
> organisms better explain how to feed 10 billion people sustainably
> otherwise. There are of course problems with some biotechnologies...
The environmental impact of gm crops is phenomenal, and extreme caution
should be used in growing them in the wild. The effect of genetically
modifying crops to withstand disease and insects would be similar to the
problem of bacteria becoming resistant to penicilin - you simply force
the thing you're trying to destroy to become stronger.
At the moment gm crops are not very widely spread but if their use was
more widespread then it cause tremendous ecological damage. The things
which eat genetically modified soya will also eat other things - which
do not have the superior genetically engineered defenses.
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