Hide the Location of GM Plant Trials?

Technocrat

Hide the Location of GM Plant Trials?

zogger

Mon Jul 28 18:29:00 -0700 2008

Genetic+Engineering

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Some researchers want to keep the location of open air trials of genetically modified plants a secret, so that they aren't destroyed by people opposed to those sorts of plants.

"The other possibility is to identify some national testing centre or centres where such trials could be run securely without the risk of zealots destroying them". ed.z.: I see both viewpoints equally,so I am stuck for an opinion. But I''ll do it anyway.

Past history indicates that white lab coat egg head "god complex" arrogance, especially being pushed hard by profit seeking investors, and an over assumption of immediate full safety no matter the substance or "plan" being developed has lead to some ..problems. Some of them pretty huge and long lasting.

"Hey, check out this mineral we found, it is heat resistant and we can make it into all sorts of stuff! Well call it rock wool" whoops "Hey, we got soil erosion, look at this fast growing vine from japan called kudzu, we can bring it over and..." whoops. Stuff like that "Agent orange is as safe as momma's milk!" "We'll just add this MTBE chemical to fuel and it will make it so much better and.." And so on.

We also have a very legitimate and pressing need for better plants/crops, no one denies that, we need better crops, we need to be able to feed a lot more people and make crops more resistant to disease and pests and be better able to handle droughts and floods and not need added fertilizer so much, etc. That's a gimme.

So..I guess I would say go ahead and research but take your time and get it right the first time, even if it means your new miracle thing takes some years more to make you your million bucks. With heavily modded plants, it is that "open air" deal that makes me nervous, especially with air or insect pollinated plants. That DNA is *not* going to respect some artificial imaginary dotted line boundary, so don't even pretend it will.

Hide the Location of GM Plant Trials?

The Baron

Tue Jul 29 06:29:35 -0700 2008
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"The other possibility is to identify some national testing centre or centres where such trials could be run securely without the risk of zealots destroying them".

I am all for this, and think it is by far the best solution. Let's just make sure that security goes both ways. Keeping the nutjob protesters out and the 'harmless' genes in.

Hide the Location of GM Plant Trials?

Simon

Tue Jul 29 16:27:04 -0700 2008
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I think the problem is that open air trials and keeping the "harmless" genes in, are directly contradictory.

If we get sand from the Sahara in South West England regularly, how far do you think airborne pollen can travel?

Whilst there is research showing that only small amounts of pollen travel great distances, the great thing about genes is it only takes one fertilisation event to start a new variant. The "superweed" search in GM trials is usually confined to the trial site, and has to ignore the possibility of superweeds hundreds of miles away, because they couldn't possily detect that happening before the superweed becomes a problem weed (when it might (conceivably) be sequenced).

Not Theoretical problem

mrjk

Tue Jul 29 14:03:17 -0700 2008
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Quoting from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel today:

"Three people have been indicted on charges connected to an attack on a U.S. Forest Service building in Rhinelander in 2000, according to federal court documents unsealed today.
...[the three] are charged with conspiracy and damaging government property.
According the indictment, the three belonged to the Earth Liberation Front, which claimed credit for damaging 500 trees involved in a genetic experiment and defacing a Forest Service building in Rhinelander."

They weren't all locals either. That was 8 years ago though. Don't know what is happening now