Comments on: Dale Sanders on what GM crops have to offer http://www.biomedcentral.com/biome/dale-sanders-on-what-gm-crops-have-to-offer/ Research, comment & community news in biology & medicine Wed, 02 Oct 2013 11:05:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: E. G. Sideris http://www.biomedcentral.com/biome/dale-sanders-on-what-gm-crops-have-to-offer/#comment-194 E. G. Sideris Sat, 28 Sep 2013 18:54:00 +0000 http://www.biomedcentral.com/biome/?p=3225#comment-194 Many times I also have been asked the question: What are genetically modified (GM) crops, and how do they differ to crops generated by domestication? Thus, though by far not an expert on GM, I do think, as Geneticist, that a few comments should be added. The main difference between classically bred (cross breeding, radiation and chemical induced mutations in use for almost a century) crops lies on the transferred genetic material, the DNA. In the case of classical breeding large segments of DNA carrying unknown number of undefined genes are added to the DNA of the bred crop together with the desirable gene or genes. In opposite in the case of GM crops small well defined segments of DNA, carrying one or more desirable genes, are incorporated in the DNA of the bred crop. To my understanding the health risk factor from undefined segments of DNA, carrying unknown "natural" genes ("natural" does not always means healthy) it is much higher in the case of classical breeding than in the case of GM plants. E. G. Sideris Dr. Biology, Ph.D. Genetics Never involved in GM work Many times
I also have been asked the question: What are genetically modified (GM) crops, and how do they differ to crops generated by domestication? Thus, though by far not an expert on GM, I
do think, as Geneticist, that a few comments should be added. The main
difference between classically bred (cross breeding, radiation and chemical
induced mutations in use for almost a century) crops lies on the transferred genetic
material, the DNA. In the case of classical breeding large segments of DNA
carrying unknown number of undefined genes are added to the DNA of the bred
crop together with the desirable gene or genes. In opposite in the case of GM
crops small well defined segments of DNA, carrying one or more desirable genes,
are incorporated in the DNA of the bred crop. To my understanding the health risk
factor from undefined segments of DNA, carrying unknown “natural” genes
(“natural” does not always means healthy) it is much higher in the
case of classical breeding than in the case of GM plants.
E. G. Sideris Dr. Biology, Ph.D. Genetics
Never involved in GM work

]]> By: gdbear65 http://www.biomedcentral.com/biome/dale-sanders-on-what-gm-crops-have-to-offer/#comment-189 gdbear65 Thu, 26 Sep 2013 21:43:00 +0000 http://www.biomedcentral.com/biome/?p=3225#comment-189 Sorry I think you're absolutely wrong about GMOs. From an environmental perspective Bt Cotton, RR corn and soy are nightmares. The yields are no greater and pest organisms are becoming resistant to them. Super-weeds anyone? Sorry I think you’re absolutely wrong about GMOs. From an environmental perspective Bt Cotton, RR corn and soy are nightmares. The yields are no greater and pest organisms are becoming resistant to them. Super-weeds anyone?

]]> By: Vance Feld http://www.biomedcentral.com/biome/dale-sanders-on-what-gm-crops-have-to-offer/#comment-188 Vance Feld Thu, 26 Sep 2013 17:04:00 +0000 http://www.biomedcentral.com/biome/?p=3225#comment-188 This whole thing is a moot point. Almost all GMO actually means ROUNDUP READY. Its lazy farming. I'd support GMO that just made my tomatoes bigger and taste better or naturally resistant to bugs. No more poison in the water. This whole thing is a moot point. Almost all GMO actually means ROUNDUP READY. Its lazy farming. I’d support GMO that just made my tomatoes bigger and taste better or naturally resistant to bugs. No more poison in the water.

]]> By: Agathis http://www.biomedcentral.com/biome/dale-sanders-on-what-gm-crops-have-to-offer/#comment-182 Agathis Thu, 26 Sep 2013 04:17:00 +0000 http://www.biomedcentral.com/biome/?p=3225#comment-182 well said, particularly regarding the over use of the precautionary principle well said, particularly regarding the over use of the precautionary principle

]]> By: Intent http://www.biomedcentral.com/biome/dale-sanders-on-what-gm-crops-have-to-offer/#comment-179 Intent Wed, 25 Sep 2013 16:11:00 +0000 http://www.biomedcentral.com/biome/?p=3225#comment-179 GMO food safety concerns compared to the risk of traffic accidents. The precautionary principle. These are interesting allusions which deflect attention away from the unsustainability of an industrial food production model (IFPM). IFPM's are unnatural, harmful to the environment, and create human vulnerabilities to disease. GMO's are inextricably intertwined with a model of industrial food production bent not so much on saving the world from hunger as it is garnering a huge profit and limiting the individual's right to grow/consume food. Grow GMO's to feed the starving? Noble and feasible but a clever ruse nonetheless. GMO food safety concerns compared to the risk of traffic accidents. The precautionary principle. These are interesting allusions which deflect attention away from the unsustainability of an industrial food production model (IFPM). IFPM’s are unnatural, harmful to the environment, and create human vulnerabilities to disease. GMO’s are inextricably intertwined with a model of industrial food production bent not so much on saving the world from hunger as it is garnering a huge profit and limiting the individual’s right to grow/consume food. Grow GMO’s to feed the starving? Noble and feasible but a clever ruse nonetheless.

]]> By: Ben http://www.biomedcentral.com/biome/dale-sanders-on-what-gm-crops-have-to-offer/#comment-177 Ben Wed, 25 Sep 2013 15:45:00 +0000 http://www.biomedcentral.com/biome/?p=3225#comment-177 They just state that there is no evidence that GMO can hurt people. It is almost impossible to bring this truth to the surface as there are so many factors influencing people's health. It starts with unhealthy food, unhealty living environments, unhealthy work environment etc.etc.. Food is an important issue in this field and the GMO generating factories are part of the Big Firm and will decide what we should eat. Governments and people are just the puppet on the string. Europe tried to stop it, but it was only part of the play, and now they say it is safe without taking in account what it will do on the long run. And that is the point: we will never know on beforehand what all the food that is not in its basis friendly for the body by its natural organism, will do to us. If we look at the chronic diseases that are mounting to extreme high levels, especially in the USA, nobody will direct to anyone who is responsible for this. We just go on. The word should go out: Consume Less instead of consuming more. The last expression is the what the food manufacturing industry wants. So get conscious and know that we should be aware of hidden dangers. If all the dollars and euros that are now put into GMO research had been put into Organic cultivated food, we would have been far ahead, also in health. Thank you for your attention. They just state that there is no evidence that GMO can hurt people. It is almost impossible to bring this truth to the surface as there are so many factors influencing people’s health. It starts with unhealthy food, unhealty living environments, unhealthy work environment etc.etc.. Food is an important issue in this field and the GMO generating factories are part of the Big Firm and will decide what we should eat. Governments and people are just the puppet on the string. Europe tried to stop it, but it was only part of the play, and now they say it is safe without taking in account what it will do on the long run. And that is the point: we will never know on beforehand what all the food that is not in its basis friendly for the body by its natural organism, will do to us. If we look at the chronic diseases that are mounting to extreme high levels, especially in the USA, nobody will direct to anyone who is responsible for this. We just go on. The word should go out: Consume Less instead of consuming more. The last expression is the what the food manufacturing industry wants.
So get conscious and know that we should be aware of hidden dangers.
If all the dollars and euros that are now put into GMO research had been put into Organic cultivated food, we would have been far ahead, also in health.

Thank you for your attention.

]]> By: Beatriz Xoconostle http://www.biomedcentral.com/biome/dale-sanders-on-what-gm-crops-have-to-offer/#comment-174 Beatriz Xoconostle Wed, 25 Sep 2013 13:36:00 +0000 http://www.biomedcentral.com/biome/?p=3225#comment-174 This is a very interesting point of view. It is time for Europe to start thinking in GMO as an attractive way to increase agricultural production. Otherwise, they will only increase their importation overseas. This is a very interesting point of view. It is time for Europe to start thinking in GMO as an attractive way to increase agricultural production. Otherwise, they will only increase their importation overseas.

]]> By: Plant genomics podcast - BioMed Central blog http://www.biomedcentral.com/biome/dale-sanders-on-what-gm-crops-have-to-offer/#comment-141 Plant genomics podcast - BioMed Central blog Fri, 30 Aug 2013 15:06:12 +0000 http://www.biomedcentral.com/biome/?p=3225#comment-141 [...] the aurally challenged, Biome has posted a full text of the Q&A from which Sanders' podcast clips are excerpted. Tags: Genome Biology, [...] [...] the aurally challenged, Biome has posted a full text of the Q&A from which Sanders' podcast clips are excerpted. Tags: Genome Biology, [...]

]]> By: Biome | The power of plant genomics http://www.biomedcentral.com/biome/dale-sanders-on-what-gm-crops-have-to-offer/#comment-138 Biome | The power of plant genomics Tue, 27 Aug 2013 15:40:55 +0000 http://www.biomedcentral.com/biome/?p=3225#comment-138 [...] Finally, GM crops first hit the headlines 30 years ago, but what exactly are GM crops and why have they been undergoing something of a renaissance of late? Dale Sanders tackles these and other questions in this special edition podcast. If you’re interested in reading more about the debate on GM crops, then check out our Q&A piece with Sanders. [...] [...] Finally, GM crops first hit the headlines 30 years ago, but what exactly are GM crops and why have they been undergoing something of a renaissance of late? Dale Sanders tackles these and other questions in this special edition podcast. If you’re interested in reading more about the debate on GM crops, then check out our Q&A piece with Sanders. [...]

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