Turns out Gaia is a genetic engineer;
Until recently, it was thought that plant breeding programs selected the superior forms (termed alleles in genetic parlance) of existing genes. Breeders selected for the form or allele of the gene that, for example, encoded a more efficient protein, expressed the gene at a higher (or lower) level, etc. Selection by the breeder was not at the gene level but rather at a level easily observed by the breeder. This could be greater yield, enhanced disease or insect resistance, sweeter fruit, larger berry, earlier maturity, etc. Then it was thought that all members of a particular plant family (corn, soybean, wheat, blue berry, orange, etc.) contained the same genes; they simply differed in the forms of those genes existing in a particular family.
It turns out that this is all wrong.
[…]
…pieces of DNA that naturally move around in the genome and insert at random into the genome- actually pick up pieces of old genes and put these pieces together to make brand new genes. This is not a rare event. For example in corn a particular transposable element termed a Helitron has synthesized (estimated conservatively) ~11,000 new coding regions. Since the total number of genes in corn is around 40,000 the number of coding regions coming from Helitrons is quite significant.
Note that these newly evolved chimeric genes-arising naturally from transposable elements — bear striking similarities to chimeric genes synthesized by scientists and inserted into plant genomes. The major difference is that the chimeric genes arising in nature via transposable elements occur unsuspectingly. We don’t know when they arise or where, we don’t know what the final product is. We don’t spend millions of dollars monitoring them for safety and hence we don’t know whether they might encode an allergenic protein or otherwise be dangerous. But because eating our typical food plants has a long history of being safe we don’t worry about it.
Would I be going out on a limb to say that Mama Nature
is smarter than liberals and tree-huggers?
I really love the anti-GMO dorks who cannot tell me the
original color of the carrot, or why it was hybrid to
make it orange a few hundred years ago!
No, you would not be going out on a limb.
Just about every “natural” food we eat has been genetically modified at some point in history.
It is only the new “Soviet” man who thinks it knows better.
Down with edible plants! End agriculture.
Seriously, I guess this must be going on in all living things. Amazing how it all holds together.
Good read. I always like to tell an anti-GMO person when I meet them, especially the younger generation, that the tomatoes and other veggies they eat resemble nothing at all like their originals. Through a process of selective breeding the plants have been completely changed. They never know what to say.
That said companies like Monsanto are the Microsoft of the agricultural industry. The analogy is very accurate.
So when lefties run around complaining about GMO stuff I don’t agree with them, but I do like it when they stick it to Monsanto.
Not everyone is a saint in the GMO business.
That’s like saying generic “kraft dinner” is no different from your Mom’s ‘made from scratch’ Mac&Cheese. For some people it’s the same. Those who don’t care about the difference between artificial chemical ‘food’ and natural food can eat as much imported junk from China as they want. It’s called free will and personal choice.
Educate people and let them make informed choices.
OK …. I’ll say it. There is NO difference.
Because food processing is NOT the same effin thing as food growing.
I have no doubt you believe that.
Have a nice day, and be sure to eat your junk food. It’s good for you.
Pig s h i t isn’t organic at all. It’s laced with antibiotics and other ag-chemicals from the contaminated feed.
Sheep or horse manure is best for growing organic food.
“Pig s h i t isn’t organic at all. It’s laced with antibiotics and other ag-chemicals from the contaminated feed.”
Yep and Globull Warming is real and 97% of scientist say so…..
Do a bit of genuine research….before you spout the party line.
A lie told many times is no more credible than the first time.
A lie can make it half way around the world before the truth gets it’s pants on.
“Pig shit isn’t organic at all.”
organic (adj.) “serving as an organ or instrument,” from Latin organicus, from Greek organikos “of or pertaining to an organ, serving as instruments or engines,” from organon “instrument”
Pig shit originates in a pig’s lower intestine, an organ, it is therefore organic.
I haven’t read anything from north-of-60 lately. You seem to have a lot in common with him, including the inability to recognize a metaphor.
Most everyone but the willfully ignorant recognize that ‘organic’ in he context of this discussion refers to organic agriculture, which does not use pig manure, it’s too contaminated to be ‘organic’ in this context.
Got it now?
No the “GlobalWarmingClimateChange” movement isn’t based on reality, it’s a cult.
Do try to get your facts straight, and you won’t be so easily confused.
This ID comes up when I sign in, live with it, or SierraTangoFoxtrotUniform
It is more like “every” than “just about every”. And similarly with domesticated animals. You
won’t be ranching any aurochs any time soon!
TaurOs Project
http://breedingback.blogspot.ca/2013/06/the-tauros-project.html
People who eat processed foods deserve their fate.
More difficult is determining the provenance of fresh produce and meats. That is where I would appreciate GMO labelling. I am agnostic on any particular GMO modification, but GMO is typically a good indicator of bT toxins or roundup residues, which I prefer to avoid. Sure selective breeding has been around a while, transforming fruit into engorgd sacs of fruit juice, which is why I tend not to each much fruit. I eat the small, wild berries, especially Saskatoons and the berries I pick around the cottage. Typically I’ll eat the apple peel where all the phytonutrients are and throw out the massive sugary pulp developed b selective breeding. Wild crab apples are fine.
Having looked into farmed Atlantic salmon, I simply don’t eat it anymore. It would be one thing if they fed them shrimp, but the get corn and patented food colouring to make the flesh look pink like wild salmon. Same with pork. Unless I know the producer, I simply avoid it. The difference between supermarket pork and field raised Berkshire, for example, is night and day. One farmer I get from feeds surplus black walnuts to his wild boars (it is fun to watch them crunch through the shells) and the fat on the, is divine, melting in your mouth, due to the high ALA content of the nuts. The outdoor living wild boars are also athletic, able to leap over five foot fences. This is a far superior food to grain fed, stall bound swine, both in taste and texture and in nutrient composition.
You get what you pay for and I’ll gladly pay the $500 per year for our family. For people who are indifferent to GMO, no labelling required for processd food. What you get with processd food is a crapshoot anyway.
An apples and oranges argument here that ignores the basic mechanics of Aided cross breeding and Genetic engineering.
Cultured cross breeding cannot splice genes from animals or insects into plants or vice versa as GMOs do. In some GMOs color and other is achieved by splicing animal or insect genes into a plant DNA. Also cultured breeding cannot produce the degree of immunity and abosrbtion of pesticides and herbicides which is achieved with engineering an organisms DNA.
cook your outdoor swine well.
because modern pig farmers put their stock inside to prevent infection with roundworm, which causes trichinosis when you eat undercooked pork.
I know that I am going to illicit the ire of the trolls, but
studies of so-called organic foods has shown there is little
difference other than the price and label when compared to
non-organic foods. Chemical pesticides are actually safer
than the “Natural” alternatives.
Sorry, but that is a total myth! The use of antibiotics and
growth hormones were halted a LONG time ago when it was
discovered that there might be adverse effects or unintended
consequences like antibiotic resistant diseases.
This is like arguing that aerosol cans should be banned
because they contain CFC’s.
Pig shit is indeed organic!
Nice catch there. I suspect that he is either North of
Pyongyang or the guy who cannot spell the name Ockham.
because this is what liberal trolls do, hide behind
usernames.
I will know for sure when he goes on a rant about solar
power which one he is.
PS Leonard Jones is my REAL name. I have nothing to hide!
If they are doing this, where are the “Frankenplants” that
you are ranting about?
They do not exist because this is not what GMO’s are all
about. It is no different than the several thousand year old
practice of plant breeding, not producing ears of corn with
human testicles.
It is ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE to produce a hybrid between
two genetically incompatible species. Just as a cat cannot
impregnate a dog, you cannot create a new plant by combining
the genes of an Oak tree and a Rose bush!
This is what plant breeders have been doing for thousands of
years.
BC, this is tangentially related to the topic, in that it
took place in a Whole Foods store. You can occasionally
change a liberal’s mind as long as they are honest.
I bought takeout there since it was convenient at the end
of a long work day. There was a cute cashier I got to
chat with from time to time. I was wearing a work
shirt with the name of the recycling paper mill I worked for.
One day, I asked her why they did not have plastic bags
at the store. She said because they “Pollute the environment.”
I then went on to explain to her that aluminum was the only
commonly recycled item that not only uses more energy to
produce from virgin sources, but creates more pollution as
well.
I then explained the myth of biodegradable products as
well. You want stable items in landfills as opposed to
that organic shit that produces methane gases. She
seemed quite surprised, but she got it.
North of Pyongyang is still with us. He is the only one I
know who uses the military phonetic form of STFU!
The use of antibiotics and growth hormones were halted a LONG time ago
As usual, actual facts prove your opinions are incorrect, once again. Your opinions have zero credibility, and your personal insults brand you as a troll to be ignored in the future. You have a nice day.
Published: April 11, 2014:
“Amid growing international concern over the spread of superbugs on farms, slaughterhouses and supermarket meat counters, Health Canada is moving to phase out use of antibiotic growth promoters in Canadian livestock.
“The drugs have been used for decades to spike the feed and water of chickens, pigs and cattle to boost their growth — “mass medication” that Canada’s top doctor, and many others, has said should stop.
“In a statement Friday, Canadian drug producers say they have agreed with Health Canada “to phase out uses of medically important antibiotics for growth promotion.” The phase-out is expected to take three years.”
http://o.canada.com/uncategorized/canada-phasing-out-antibiotic-use-in-livestock
The use of antibiotics and growth hormones were halted a LONG time ago
As usual, actual facts prove your opinions are incorrect, once again. Your opinions have zero credibility, and your personal insults brand you as a troll to be ignored in the future. You have a nice day.
Published: April 11, 2014:
“Amid growing international concern over the spread of superbugs on farms, slaughterhouses and supermarket meat counters, Health Canada is moving to phase out use of antibiotic growth promoters in Canadian livestock.
“In a statement Friday, Canadian drug producers say they have agreed with Health Canada “to phase out uses of medically important antibiotics for growth promotion.” The phase-out is expected to take three years.”
o.canada.com/uncategorized/canada-phasing-out-antibiotic-use-in-livestock