New information layer found in DNA

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Researchers say that they've unlocked a whopping 100% more information that's hidden in DNA on top of the protein controlling layer. http://www.sciencemag.org/content/342/6164/1367

That's all fine and dandy, but what does that say of the people who were calming us down on geneticly modified crops and telling people they 'knew' what the effects of the modification were, while being totally oblivious of 50% of the information attached to the said DNA lol.

[guncrasher]

I thought we have been genetically modifying crops for thousands of years.  why is it such a big deal now?



semp

[BluBerry]

I thought we have been genetically modifying crops for thousands of years.  why is it such a big deal now?



semp

There is a big difference between the cross breeding of crops in old times compared with the genetic engineering that goes in today.

[DaveBB]

Cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli all came from the same plant.  Maize (American corn) came from a grass that had a an ear with about 10 kernels on it.  The list goes on and on.

Penn and Teller did a good show on genetically modified food.  Without it, there would be a huge food shortage.  It's been going on since the 1960s (actually manipulating the genes), whereas earlier forms of modifications just involved breeding for desirable traits.

Some people say "natural is better".  Well, plants don't want to be eaten.  Certain plants have been eaten so much that they have evolved to let their seeds survive the gastrointestinal tract of animals.  Other plants produce chemicals to keep from being eaten (apple seeds have cyanide in them, peppers have capsascin, certain tubers have cellulose crystals very similar to shards of glass).

If Monsantos or some other company can develop a disease resistant, drought resistant, complete protein, essential fatty acid producing crop by manipulating the genes, I'm all for it.

[guncrasher]

There is a big difference between the cross breeding of crops in old times compared with the genetic engineering that goes in today.

cross breeding is the original genetic manipulation.


semp

[guncrasher]

there's a lot of misinformation from both sides of the genetically engineering thingy.  both sides want to prove they're right and the other is wrong.

it's like the "organic" food controversy.  a lot of it comes from china.  milk anybody?  I hear they have lots of protein.


semp

[Maverick]

Yes there IS a big difference in cross breeding and genetic manpulation. In genetic manipulation they are looking at a specific outcome based on testing to define the parameters that are desired. Locking down as many spurious results as possible to achieve the goal.

In cross breeding they mix plant pollen with plants and look to see what happens. Then they hope to replicate the process in the field with virtually no controls, provided the results of the cross breeding were successful in the first place and not just a random nonreproducible fluke.

I suppose my sarcasm alert (tm) should have been posted first but you can probably figure out the crux of what I'm saying.

Both methods ARE gentic manipulation. One just uses far more precise scientific methods to do it.

[mthrockmor]

I don't know all sides to this discussion though in simply looking at the broader picture...

The average life expectancy has gone up dramatically
Deaths by cancer, etc are flatlining proportionate to population
Overall, we are much healthier than we used to be

On the downside, processed foods and sugars are contributing to a morbid obesity epidemic. I don't believe this is related to genetically modified foods as much as simple food choices.

Proof is in the pudding?

boo

[guncrasher]

Yes there IS a big difference in cross breeding and genetic manpulation. In genetic manipulation they are looking at a specific outcome based on testing to define the parameters that are desired. Locking down as many spurious results as possible to achieve the goal.

In cross breeding they mix plant pollen with plants and look to see what happens. Then they hope to replicate the process in the field with virtually no controls, provided the results of the cross breeding were successful in the first place and not just a random nonreproducible fluke.

I suppose my sarcasm alert (tm) should have been posted first but you can probably figure out the crux of what I'm saying.

Both methods ARE gentic manipulation. One just uses far more precise scientific methods to do it.

so this means that you are acknowledging that blueberry is your shade account?



semp

[BluBerry]

so this means that you are acknowledging that blueberry is your shade account?



semp

  random

[Randy1]

Amish popcorn specializes in non modified popcorn.  BTW if you haven't tried really good popcorn you are in for a treat.  His blues purple and red are delicious.

http://www.amishcountrypopcorn.com/

[smoe]

The genetically modified stuff is patentable and is big business. Farmers are being threatened to get on board and pay the man or else.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

cross breeding is the original genetic manipulation.


semp

Nope cross breeding is natures own mechanism which will prevent non-natural outcomes. The GMA crops you guys are eating (and without which the majority of the rest of the world is doing just fine to the dismay of Monsanto who now owns PATENTS to your crop supplies) are modified by artificially snipping genes from competely other species in a totally unnatural way.

[guncrasher]

Nope cross breeding is natures own mechanism which will prevent non-natural outcomes. The GMA crops you guys are eating (and without which the majority of the rest of the world is doing just fine to the dismay of Monsanto who now owns PATENTS to your crop supplies) are modified by artificially snipping genes from competely other species in a totally unnatural way.

of course you know everything we eat right?  have you ever been to one of our supermarkets?  most of the stuff they sale is grown in other countries. 




semp

[MrRiplEy[H]]

of course you know everything we eat right?  have you ever been to one of our supermarkets?  most of the stuff they sale is grown in other countries. 




semp

GM crops are big only in the US and are found in most US produced products. Which is why many of them are banned from sales in other countries.

The 'beauty' of Monsantos business model is that it bullies farmers into using their products and even the ones that refuse, will get their fields polluted with GM cross breeding from adjacent fields, after which Monsanto will hit with their lawyers. Twisted, twisted state of affairs.