There are a million unanswered questions about Genetic
Modifications of Organisms. The nature of the controversy is that there can
never be complete answers to most of the serious questions. The transfer of
segments of DNA, genes, or even clusters of genes from organism to organism across
species and genera is becoming more and more technically feasible. More importantly,
scientists are learning how to tell what information it is they are transferring
but they can never know how the new host will interpret that information.
There are those who question some others question all reasons for genetically modifying organisms. The
major reason is for profit: less fertilizer, pest resistance, higher protein of
food content, more rapid growth in plants and animals, growth in difficult
environment, safer food product for people with allergies. GMO’s are used to
make a number of drugs and hormones for use in animals, plants, and man. Humankind
stands to benefit tremendously from these scientific advances.
As always, there are prices paid for scientific advancement.
There are dangers in the accidental as well as intentional creation of
pathogens for human, animals, and plants. There are dangers to other plant stocks
by cross-fertilization, etc. Nefarious heads of state or war machines within
states my resort to intentional creating biological warfare agents such as weaponizing
anthrax has shown or changing the antigenic structure of small pox for example,
to attack man or his crops. There are dangers in almost everything. Scientists
can never extrapolate “danger” zero.
In addition to the competitive advantages rich corporations
can have over small companies in manufacture and distribution, there are dangers
to the environment cause by huge rapid changes corporations can make in a country
and region in terms of rapid soil depletion, for example. The fact that our highest
courts issue patents to individuals and companies jeopardizes the free market
and increases this problem. There are people who object to genetically modifying
genetic structures for all of these reasons as well as religious grounds. How
do we verify what God wants or does not want.
However, the objective of this post is to point out that “the
cat is out of the bag” or “Pandora’s box is opened”. The only option is for
humankind to know what is happening and do whatever we need to protect “us from
ourselves”. The key to success is for the
responsible media to publish more information not less. I feel bad that
some people who profit from GMO crops are attempting to depress the publication
of information; thus are trying to prevent
the dissemination of information in the hopes ignorance will promote blind
acceptance of GMO seeds, for example. Ignorance is seldom a good thing but
dissemination of non-verifiable information is worse. The people who want to
suppress publication of information should focus their wrath on non-verifiable information
and opinion. Look at the result of hate the government talk radio, the publication
of non-verified information, and opinion concerning something as simple as selenium
in public water has done. Millions of children needlessly suffer from dental
decay because of it. Think of the damage publication of non-verifiable
information could do in a subject area as complex and far-reaching as GMO’s.
Separation of fact from fiction is the challenge we must all face.
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