GM superweeds--uh-oh

From: Damien Broderick (thespike@earthlink.net)
Date: Wed Feb 05 2003 - 09:30:19 MST

  • Next message: Anders Sandberg: "Re: GM superweeds--uh-oh"

    http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/02/05/1044318670302.html

    New fears raised about GM plants
    February 6 2003
    By Stephen Cauchi
    Science Reporter

    Further questions have been raised about consequences of growing genetically
    modified plants after Australian scientists showed that a hoped-for method
    of preventing "superweeds" does not work.

    Scientists had hoped that by injecting foreign genes away from a plant
    cell's nucleus, the GM plant's pollen would remain free of the genes and not
    infect other plants.

    This week's edition of the science journal Nature says University of
    Adelaide researchers have shown that even if foreign genes are injected
    elsewhere in a cell, the genes can "hop over" into the nucleus and end up in
    the pollen.

    In theory, the pollen is then free to crossbreed with wild flowers and
    weeds, creating superweeds resistant to herbicides. [etc]



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