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Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2003 17:52:47 GMT
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On Sun, 27 Apr 2003 17:16:33 GMT, "Wayfarer"
wrote:

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/CONSUMER/geneng.html :
"Though the notion of tinkering with a plant's traits is thought of as
something radically new by some people, scientists have been doing it for
many years in cruder, less predictable ways. For example, farmers have a
long tradition of breeding desired qualities into crops. But this process
took many plant generations. Researchers now can isolate a known trait from
any living species--plant, animal or microbe--and incorporate it into
another species. These traits are contained in genes--segments of the DNA
molecules found in all living cells. The process of recombining genes
bearing a chosen trait into the DNA molecules of a new host is called
"recombinant DNA technology.""

It's rather like saying nuclear fission and oxen are just two very
similar ways of releasing energy.

Recombinant DNA technology is the most potentially beneficial, most
potentially dangerous technology ever unleashed. Life forms whose
genomes have been isolated since the dawn of nucleated cells are being
interbred. The states of our knowledge of this branch of biology and
of ecology are too primitive to justify release of these organisms
into the environment.

"Predictable"?... Already Bt corn's caterpillar-killing bacterial
genes have spread into the wild corn populations in Mexico. Allowing
this type of ad hoc experimentation with the wellspring of one of our
most essential foodstuffs is nothing short of insane.