GENETIC MODIFIED ORGANISMS (GMO): FACTS ONLY PLEASE

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.

URL: firetreepub.blogspot.com Comments Invited and not moderated