RE: The politics of biotechnology

Jonathan Reeves (JonathanR@mail.iclshelpdesks.com)
Tue, 1 Jun 1999 17:48:26 +0100

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Anders Sandberg writes: 

> This is really an area where the good side of biotech can be
> demonstrated. Anybody saying we should not spread genetically modified
> organisms better explain how to feed 10 billion people sustainably
> otherwise. There are of course problems with some biotechnologies...

The environmental impact of gm crops is phenomenal, and extreme caution should be used in growing them in the wild. The effect of genetically modifying crops to withstand disease and insects would be similar to the problem of bacteria becoming resistant to penicilin - you simply force the thing you're trying to destroy to become stronger.

At the moment gm crops are not very widely spread but if their use was more widespread then it cause tremendous ecological damage. The things which eat genetically modified soya will also eat other things - which do not have the superior genetically engineered defenses.


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Anders Sandberg writes:

> This is really an area where the good side of = biotech can be
> demonstrated. Anybody saying we should not = spread genetically modified
> organisms better explain how to feed 10 billion = people sustainably
> otherwise. There are of course problems with = some biotechnologies...

The environmental impact of gm crops is phenomenal, = and extreme caution should be used in growing them in the wild.  = The effect of genetically modifying crops to withstand disease and = insects would be similar to the problem of bacteria becoming resistant = to penicilin - you simply force the thing you're trying to destroy to = become stronger.


At the moment gm crops are not very widely spread but = if their use was more widespread then it cause tremendous ecological = damage.  The things which eat genetically modified soya will also = eat other things - which do not have the superior genetically = engineered defenses.