In article , wrote:

"Steve Peek" writes:

"Big Country" wrote in message
...
On Feb 20, 1:11 am, Billy wrote:
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com...g-m-o-foods-la
beled/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Still not sure what a GMO is but thank you for the information

GMO= genetically modified organism

Just continue the point I was trying to make,
when plant breeders select one plant because it has a desirable
trait, for example, it grows faster, what they are really doing
is genetically modifying the plant. The offspring will contain
the desirable gene.

This has been going on for thousands of years with plants and
animals.

GMO speeds up the process because scientists use recombinant DNA
technology which actually extracts genes from one species and
inserts those genes into another species.

So "normal" breeding relies on randomly occurring change and
GMO speeds up the process by picking specific changes.

The way the public reacts to this is that they see a Frankenstein
in the making. Fortunately, scientists recognize the danger
and take steps to minimize the problem. The same danger is present
with "normal" breeding. It's just a matter of degree.

The problems with GMOs are multiple.

There is no relationship to normal breeding. No matter how many
times that lie is told, it won't make it the truth.

Breeding for size is simply preferentially cultivating the larger
organism. On the other hand, giving people composite eyes
from a fly, or giving tomatoes protein from fish is beyond normal.

Despen has not responded to the first four points below.

1) An antibiotic is attached to the genes that are to be inserted. This
allows for identification of GMO cells in a petrie dish. It also
allows bacteria to develop a resistance to that antibiotic, making
it worthless in the treatment of a bacterial disease.

2) The cauliflower mosaic virus is attached to the genes that are to be
inserted. The cauliflower mosaic virus is the activator that turns
on the inserted gene. More than 98% of the human genome does not
encode protein sequences (junk DNA). Some of these genes are for
suppressed evolutionary traits such as gills, some could be dormant
diseases. These genes are also susceptible to being activated by the
cauliflower mosaic virus.

3) The spliceosome (a complex of specialized RNA and protein subunits)
from the host cell may not recognize a protein from the injected
genes and attach it to other proteins, thereby creating an unique
proteins which may be allergens.

This appears to be the case with GMO potatoes created by Arpad
Pusztai at the Rowett Research Institute in Aberdeen, Scotland. He
was tying to modify the lecithin in the potatoes, which he did, but
the potatoes gave lab rats lesions in their digestive systems,
which lead to death (which, IIRC, had nothing to do with the
lecithin).

[In 1995 the Arpad Puzstai began research on genetically modified
potatoes containing the GNA lectin gene from the snowdrop plant.[2] His
group fed rats on raw and cooked genetically modified potatoes, using
Desiree Red potatoes as controls. In 1998 Arpad Puzstai said in an
interview on a World in Action programme that his group had observed
damage to the intestines and immune systems of rats fed the genetically
modified potatoes. He also said

"If I had the choice I would certainly not eat it",

and that "I find it's very unfair to use our fellow citizens as guinea
pigs".[4]]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arpad_Pusztai

4) GMO Bt corn (StarLink) kills monarch butterflies. Round Up Ready
crops allow more glyphosate to be used to suppress weeds, but it
also severely damages the soil biota, triggers over 40 plant
diseases, and endangers human and animal health.

5) GMOs don't produce larger crops.

6) Then there is the matter of a recent recent CBS/NYT poll that found 87
percent of consumers want GMOs them labeled so that they can make
an informed choice about what they eat. Arpad Pusztai, a
recombinant geneticist agrees with them (see #3 above).

Other than that, there isn't anything wrong with "Genetically Modified
Organisms" (GMOs) that we know of, yet.
--
Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. This is not a way of life at all in any true sense. Under the clouds of war, it is humanity hanging on a cross of iron.
- Dwight D. Eisenhower, 16 April 1953
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZkDikRLQrw