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Scientists to plant genetically modified trees on government land pending approval
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by World_Groove | August 10, 2008 at 08:02 am
962 views | 7 Recommendations | 35 comments
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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)
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World_Groove
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (35)
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 13:02 on August 10th, 2008
Your headline is misleading/alarmist. No GMO trees have been planted. It says so right in the body of the article. I reccomend you edit your headline so it is factual.
at 13:06 on August 10th, 2008
Isn't ALL news alarmist?
I'll make a change thanks.
at 13:15 on August 10th, 2008
Not all. Some news organizations are more guilty than others (CNN, FOX) but the goal of journalism is to convey facts in proper context. I prefer my news like my whisky, straight up. Thanks for the edit.
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 14:04 on August 10th, 2008
I agree mchawk. It think it is willful ignorance on the part of people who think the world should all eat organic vegitables. Without GMO foods many millions more wouild die in Africa each year as in many areas GMO plants are the only plants that can survive in such hot arid conditions. GMO foods are a huge step forward in farming. Sadly, the anti-GMO protesters have even convince African countries to send back UN donated GMO grains that would have kept many who starved to death alive. These protesters, who are all from wealthy countries where food safety is not an issue, are causing starvation and death in the poorest of countries all to make their political statements. Shame!
at 14:50 on August 10th, 2008
Thanks for your comments !
I would not be so carefree in throwing around the term "ignorance", merely because people have opinions on the subject other than your own. In this debate there are allot of factors to consider. Some have religious objections, some have lifestyle objections, and some political objections, some have ecological objections....just to name a few.
Again there is a vast difference between creating strains through breeding with hybridization, and between Genetic Modification.
Most genetic modification for foodstuffs so far has been done to make the plants more resilient to herbicides, so farmers can spray on more chemicals. It does make for easier farming with better harvest quantities, but we don't know what all the extra herbicides will be doing to our soil, ground water and animal life near the farming operations. (Think Peregrine Falcon and DDT)
Check me on this if I am wrong, But Dwarf Wheat is a hybrid not GM.
at 15:36 on August 10th, 2008
What you're arguing about here is semantics. Artificial hybridisation is, by its very nature, genetic modification, ergo "GM."
I totally agree with your point on pesticides/herbicides getting into the water supply - this was ignored for decades and has caused untold trouble around the world. But to imagine that "organic" crops don't get sprayed is pure fantasy. "Organic Food" is perhaps the biggest con that has ever been played on a food buying public that is so far removed from an agricultural lifestyle that they have no idea of what it really takes to get it from the farm to their plate.
Ironicallly, you'd never guess from that that I'm on the 'cautious' side of the GM argument - who'd'a thunk it!
at 15:41 on August 10th, 2008
Hey we all have opinions and these are big social issues.
Concerning your stance that Artificial Hybridization is the same as GM, I refer you to my just posted comment above about what I understand the difference to be.
Cheers
at 20:13 on August 10th, 2008
Do you work for Monsanto, Eastvanray...? I used to work in labs and once believed that GMO's would solve all or many of our problem and help in Africa and with acid rain, pollution and Vitamins balance as well reducing pesticides and herbicides in agriculture!
The results have been exactly the opposite, we use more pesticides and herbicides since GMO since now the plant is resisted to the chemical, we caused mutation in nature at large in plants such as wild flax and canola! We have cause greater famines in Africa and Asia, since the Seeds are GMO sterile and the farmers cannot afford to buy new seed there for cannot plant any think since to old seed had to be handed over to the GMO seed company that gave away the first set of GMO seeds for free and cash you later sucker!
We have not done any research what so ever on the long term effects of GMO on the natural balance of the eco system or the impact n Humans or Animals and Insects!
We have acted so far careless and irresponsible for profits of a few big companies on the back of Farmers and the public at large as well as the eco system!
GMO need to get banned and that really fast! We need to do some extensive research first and in Universities with no ties to Monsanto or other Chemical Bio labs with profits in mind!
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 14:13 on August 10th, 2008
World,
Your new headline is better but still misleading. No approval has been granted, therefore the use of the words "to plant" are not correct. "Scientists seek approval to plant...." reflects the facts of the article. Why are you trying to indicate planting will occur when that is not true at this point?
at 14:36 on August 10th, 2008
I am not trying to do anything....sorry you feel I have an agenda, I do not.
at 14:39 on August 10th, 2008
Just trying to encourage neutrality in non-opinion pieces.
at 14:48 on August 10th, 2008
Sure, I respect that. On this story I am happy to oblige.
However I do strongly believe A "Headline" is not a Story, Then again I come from the Hunter S. Thompson school of journalism.....
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 14:51 on August 10th, 2008
Seems people are afraid of GMO but no one can articulate a good reason why. All I hear are unsupported fears. What harm has ever been caused to humans who eat GMO foods? Anyone have a peer-reviewed source to back up the fear-mongering?
at 14:59 on August 10th, 2008
Peer-reviewed source -- oh, you mean those research publications written by those really smart people who learned a long time ago not to bite the hand that feeds them ? Oh, those guys ... I think I'd rather read the Inquirer ...
at 15:21 on August 10th, 2008
You seem to hold to the opinion that having concerns about something is not a reason to keep from moving forward.
Playing advocate :
I would have to say the pro GM people can not prove that the things modified will have a long lasting strong genetic structure.
They can not prove that the GM items will not quickly evolve in some way in which no one can foresee and wreck havoc on an ecosystem.
It might be the case that not enough tests have been done to show humans and other animals can properly metabolize GM material, and into the possible long term effects that could come from eating GM material.
There is some concern about plants being GM'd to have insect resistance, might actually create super bugs. And that the built in resistance ability might not be toxic to those who consume the product.
Of course there is the religious "Playing God" debate.
As for me...for the record.... I have a huge amount of close family in Farming. I grew up around Farming, I was in the Agricultural industry for a decade and a half, I have a step daughter at USC in Chemical engineering and one starting at USC in Bio Medical engineering. I am personally a centrist between the use of Science and Nature.
at 15:14 on August 10th, 2008
LOL
Potato (potatoe) x Corn = Eyes and Ears = hear evil - see evil - speak no evil ?
at 15:36 on August 10th, 2008
I think those were chimpanzees, not potatoes - but hey, people could be interested in a spud that enjoyed eating a banana ... hmmm, I think folks are gonna make a whole lotta money in this GM thing ...
at 15:40 on August 10th, 2008
Apparently, the only country making any cash out of it is the USA, as Europe got scared and cut most of the funding a few years ago (we're such a bunch of cheese-eating surrender monkeys!)
And I have a wierd feeling that I once read a New Scientist article about a lab putting meat genes into a chicken egg, just to see what would happen. That's one experiment you really don't want getting out of the lab.
at 16:15 on August 10th, 2008
I remember a few years back - maybe it's been ten years, jeeeezz ... anyway, these research types took a fruit-fly and GM'd it real good ... there was a photomicrograph of the end-result - a fruit-fly with little fruit-fly eyes just about everywhere one might find a place to sprout, but as I recall the extra eyeballs were mostly on the leg joints, one per I think ... it really looked, well, mutated I guess would be the word ... not exactly what one might call a good first impression, at least in my case ...
at 20:00 on August 10th, 2008
Not true. Canada is the world's largest exporter of Canola (used to make vegitable oil) and almost all of it is GMO. Chances are good that if you cook with canola oil you are eating a GM product.