Truemors
is reporting from
Member
NP Rank:
NP Rank:
Scientists to plant genetically modified trees on government land pending approval
Share: 
by World_Groove | August 10, 2008 at 08:02 am
1102 views | 7 Recommendations | 12 comments
Photos
Scientists plant genetically modified trees on government land
uploaded by World_Groove
I am not a huge fan of genetic modified products. I do not discount their potential, but the unknown risks give me trepidations.
Scientists have applied to plant a group of genetically modified (GM) trees on land owned by the Forestry Commission.
A group of researchers from the University of Southampton want to establish a settlement of GM poplar trees to carry out research into biofuels.
"Our concerns with GM trees are even more serious than crops because trees are very long lived" - Clare Oxborrow from Friends of the Earth
A spokesman for the Forestry Commission said: "I'm aware that researchers from the University of Southampton have applied to plant some GM poplar on our land.
"We're still considering their request but haven't given a definitive answer."
The plantation would be the first attempt to cultivate GM trees in the UK since 1999, when activists destroyed 115 plants in Berkshire.
But campaigners warned that allowing the move to go ahead would be "an unknown and worrying risk" for Britain's eco-systems.
Clare Oxborrow, a GM campaigner for Friends of the Earth said: "Our concerns with GM trees are even more serious than crops because trees are very long lived.
"They are inherently geared up for spreading seeds and pollen because of they way the reproduce.
"There's a huge potential for cross pollination.
"It could have a really negative impact and cause widespread ecological damage."
She added: "Our concern is that biofuels will distract people away from other solutions."
© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.
The picture was taken at night here in the states on a Hybrid tree farm. (Then inverted)
Advertisement
What is NowPublic?
NowPublic lets people work together to cover news events around the world.
Crowd Power
World_Groove
No City, No State, United States
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (12)
at 09:20 on August 10th, 2008
World_Groove, I like this story. It's good stuff. Very careful preparation and planning would have to be done before anything like this could be done. Cross-pollination between modified trees and native species could be a huge disaster.
at 09:50 on August 10th, 2008
You would think they could engineer them not to produce pollen, and thus take away the fears of cross pollination
at 13:40 on August 10th, 2008
I hate to point this out, but we've all been eating genetically modified plants and animals for centuries. Carrots used to be yellow and we selectively bred them to be orange. Do you think all the varieties of wine come from one variety of grape? Name any farm-animal. You think all the different breeds just came about by accident?
No. As soon as humanity began to farm, we've altered the genetic makeup of all the plants and animals we've farmed. The only thing that has changed in recent decades is the technology we can use to affect genetic change, saving us years of trial and error and wasted money.
Where does this knee-jerk fear of GM come from? Does it come from an ignorance of science or an ignorance of farming?
If you want a global ban on GM, try selling that idea to the millions in China, India and Africa who's lives depend on hardy varieties of dwarf-wheat and other crops that were genetically modified in labs, decades before "GM" became such a taboo/hot-topic.
at 13:44 on August 10th, 2008
Keep in mind there is a difference between Human designed hybrids and GM.
at 15:26 on August 10th, 2008
How? Apart from in the mechanism used to achieve the desired breeding effect?
at 15:34 on August 10th, 2008
As I understand it.... I will explain it thus:
A Hybrid Carrot per say can only have the properties of other carrot varieties.
A GM carrot, could have the genes of a Mosquito an Oak tree and a Thistle inserted.
or
Hybrid = of nature or possible in nature
GM = not possible in nature, must be manipulated by man (or aliens) to ever happen.
as I understand it.....
at 14:00 on August 10th, 2008
A general outline of the controversy can be had here :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_food_controversies
I am personally fine with hybrids through breeding, nature has a way with correcting them with infertility when they go awry. I will need more time and knowledge to know where I really stand On Genetic Modification
at 14:27 on August 10th, 2008
This story might give you trepidations, but me - this just gives me the plain old willies !!
Yikes !!
Are we gonna be seeing 850-pound squirrels next? Ones which have grown up on a diet of the nuts these trees may produce ?
at 14:38 on August 10th, 2008
You can get some hilarious visuals with the concept of GM.....Hmmmm....think beef genes in your potato plants....get your meat and veg in one.....
at 15:10 on August 10th, 2008
Right - or spuds that walk right out of the pantry, take off their own skin and jump neatly into the pot ! Heck, potatoes already have eyes, all they really need now is a small brain and a few feet - nice!
Those small little spud-pies on kitchen floor, now they can be slippery and dangerous if you step in one - we'll have to tweak the design on that one just a tad ...
at 15:44 on August 10th, 2008
This is the first time I have ever participated in a long posting of comments...MAN it can get convoluted and confusing in a hurry !!! Thanks guys...I was bored this evening.
at 19:54 on August 10th, 2008
World_Groove, I like this story. It's good stuff.
This is not a good idea even if at first glance it may sound to be a solution! Our knowledge in this area is still in baby shows and we have as is already done great damage with GMO in agriculture and Zoology that may still come to hunt us with a twist!