On Mon, 25 Aug 2003 03:33:53 GMT, Mooshie peas
wrote:

On Sun, 24 Aug 2003 13:17:22 +0200, Torsten Brinch
posted:

On Sun, 24 Aug 2003 07:23:23 GMT, "Gordon Couger"
wrote:
On Sun, 17 Aug 2003 11:32:40 +0200, Torsten Brinch
posted:
On Sun, 17 Aug 2003 09:00:11 GMT, "Gordon Couger"
wrote:

GM seeds can be develop in a short time

Myth: Genetic engineering reduces development time.

[Fact:]
The actual plant breeding work in genetically modified
varieties is the same as for conventional varieties, but
before this breeding work can start, there is the need for
extensive molecular development.

It is generally more expensive to develop genetically
modified varieties and bring them to market than
conventional varieties, because of the additional research
and development work, and additional regulatory
requirements.

Try and get the genetics for the resistance to the blight that caused the
Irish potato famine into commercial varieties with conventional breeding.

I assume you mean genetics from _Solanum bulbocastanum_. Resistance
genes from it were reported to have been transferred to potatoes using
conventional breeding methods by 2000, and using genetic engineering
by 2003. However, no commercial seed potatoes have become available
from the introgression by either method so far, and expected time of
arrival of any commercial seed potatoes on the market is unknown.

And when did they start doing both?

If you are interested just look it up. Point is that no commercial
varieties have been developed from it, and we do not know when that
will be, if ever.

Gordon, hypothetical commercial GM seed potatoes of the future, which
have not yet been developed into existence are not very good examples
of short development time of GM seeds. I am pretty sure Novartis is
referring to actual experience from developing actually existing
commercial GM varieties, when they say GM varieties generally take a
bit more time to develop than new conventionally bred varieties.

Such as?

Why, the new varieties Novartis have had practical experience
developing, of course; and perhaps new varieties from other companies,
the development time of which Novartis as an insider to the industry
might know about.

If you make an assertion, please give us the examples you
base it on. snip

Oh, I do not base that on any particular examples. If I want to know
how development time of genetically modified varieties compares to the
development time of conventionally bred varieties, I ask those who are
actually developing new varieties, e.g. Novartis.