Dr Abe V Rotor
The controversial idea of developing resistance against weeds and other pests through direct gene splicing, say Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) into corn (Bt corn), has utterly failed. In nature, all organisms undergo biological specialization, an adaptive
mechanism in adjusting to changing conditions, thus the most important tool in evolutionary success. No man-induced resistance will ever overtake this continuing process. Bt Corn, thought to be caterpillar-resistant, is losing the race. So with Bt soybean et al. And this holds true to all GMOs - plants, animals, protists and monerans. The worst consequence other than crop failure is the growing fear of consumers against eating GMO products. Ultimately, it is the danger of polluting natural gene pools - a living bomb that impairs the genetic order of the living world.
Acknowledgement: Philippine Daily Inquirer, The World, January 14, 2014, Internet, Wikipedia, Scientific American, Time
No comments:
Post a Comment