Quizzes & Puzzles35 mins ago
Gm
18 Answers
First I've heard of this. Are they trying to get it through unnoticed while other political news grabs folks' attention ?
https:/ /www.bb c.co.uk /news/s cience- environ ment-64 596453
If it gets through it had better be very clearly labelled.
https:/
If it gets through it had better be very clearly labelled.
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.Man has been modifying the genetics of plants and animals for centuries by selectively breeding for desired characteristics. Now we can see the genome, understand where a characteristic is located and swap it for more desirable one. Same end result just by a faster route. I will gladly take my chances if it saves waste, creates food with better flavour, etc.
The issues are multiple. Single genes can affect a large number of things, most unanticipated. Then there is both the potential spread of modded genes in the environment (bad enough when mankind introduces foreign species, never mind new genes). And now this where one can not know what changes will do to human beings who consume them. It's only now we're finding data on possible issues with hastily created vaccines; food eaten every day is hardly a wiser move. And it is clearly not necessary. It solves no problems, although it is often claimed to help with the symptoms of an existing problem, as if that was a valid justification. It's purely about profit for big business regardless of any potential consequences.
'What is precision breeding?
The Government’s Genetic Technology fact sheet published with the Bill [PDF] describes precision breeding as a range of breeding technologies, such as gene editing (GE), that enable DNA to be edited “much more efficiently and precisely than current breeding techniques”.
Precision breeding technologies can make targeted genetic changes to produce beneficial traits that can also occur through traditional breeding and natural processes. This makes it different to genetic modification (GM) where modern techniques are used to insert functional DNA from an unrelated species into another species.
Scientists consider that precision breeding will allow a range of foods with health, environmental or commercial benefits to be developed more quickly than traditional breeding methods. Policy makers hope these will help to tackle global food security, climate change and human health challenges. GE crops may currently be cultivated in several countries including Canada, China, the US, Australia, and Brazil (with varying regulation).
Examples of current GE products include soybean oil with reduced saturated fat sold in the USA and a tomato sold in Japan that accumulates a chemical that lowers blood pressure. For the future, a range of wheat, chickpea, and peanut products with health benefits are in development, alongside products aimed at consumer convenience such as seedless fruits and corn that is higher in thickening starch.'
The Government’s Genetic Technology fact sheet published with the Bill [PDF] describes precision breeding as a range of breeding technologies, such as gene editing (GE), that enable DNA to be edited “much more efficiently and precisely than current breeding techniques”.
Precision breeding technologies can make targeted genetic changes to produce beneficial traits that can also occur through traditional breeding and natural processes. This makes it different to genetic modification (GM) where modern techniques are used to insert functional DNA from an unrelated species into another species.
Scientists consider that precision breeding will allow a range of foods with health, environmental or commercial benefits to be developed more quickly than traditional breeding methods. Policy makers hope these will help to tackle global food security, climate change and human health challenges. GE crops may currently be cultivated in several countries including Canada, China, the US, Australia, and Brazil (with varying regulation).
Examples of current GE products include soybean oil with reduced saturated fat sold in the USA and a tomato sold in Japan that accumulates a chemical that lowers blood pressure. For the future, a range of wheat, chickpea, and peanut products with health benefits are in development, alongside products aimed at consumer convenience such as seedless fruits and corn that is higher in thickening starch.'