From: Harvey Newstrom (mail@HarveyNewstrom.com)
Date: Fri May 30 2003 - 14:11:52 MDT
Party of Citizens wrote,
> Speaking of genes, let me ask another pesky question. Can anyone tell me
> why we don't get TV news or Discovery reports on gene mutations with
> beneficial effects like:
>
> "News: MIT gene x mutation causes chickens to lay more eggs!"
>
> "News: Harvard gene y mutation causes race horses to run faster!"
>
> With Project Genome well underway the individual gene mutations could even
> be located on the chromosomes.
Because they haven't actually found a mutation to make chickens lay more
eggs or make race horses run faster? :-)
Seriously, we are still at the beginning of genetic manipulation. Plant
manipulation is farthest along, and even it has not made too many
spectacular breakthroughs. The golden rice (beta-carotene in rice) is
probably the best accomplishment I can think of, and it still is a
relatively low dose of beta-carotene. I think GM crops have been made
resistant to insects and/or pesticides, but they still don't yield more or
faster than regular crops. This particular goal has not been achieved yet.
Until GM crops actually produce a better yield, the advantages are not quite
as obvious.
-- Harvey Newstrom, CISSP, IAM, GSEC, IBMCP <www.HarveyNewstrom.com> <www.Newstaff.com>
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