Post by Loupy on Apr 2, 2013 13:17:00 GMT -7
GMOs Defined
From the nonGMOproject.org website:
GMOs, or “genetically modified organisms,” are plants or animals created through the gene splicing techniques of biotechnology (also called genetic engineering, or GE). This experimental technology merges DNA from different species, creating unstable combinations of plant, animal, bacterial and viral genes that cannot occur in nature or in traditional crossbreeding.
What this means: Pesticides are bred right into the seed of some GMO crops (as opposed to spraying the plants to ward off pests). In other cases the plants are modified to survive being sprayed with the chemical weed killer Roundup (which means more Roundup sales for Monsanto).
Genetic modification is different than selective breeding. This is explained in further detail on page 9-10 of this GMO Myths and Truths document. www.nongmoproject.org/learn-more/gmo-myths-and-truths/
The eight most common GMOs in the US:
(From the institute for Responsible Technology)
-Corn
-Soybeans
-Canola
-Cottonseed
-Sugar Beets
(If a non-organic product made in North America lists "sugar" as an ingredient and NOT pure cane sugar, then it is almost certainly a combination of sugar from both sugar cane and GM sugar beets)
-Most Hawaiian Papaya
-Small amount of Zucchini and Yellow squash
-Dairy products may be from cows injected with GM bovine growth hormone.
(Look for the labels stating NO rBGH, rBST or artificial hormones or check brand listings at NonGMOShoppingGuide.com)
NOTE: Contrary to popular belief, "There is not currently, nor has there ever been, any genetically engineered wheat on the market." Check out NonGMOProject.org for more information. 100daysofrealfood.com
Nature Is Amazing, and Complicated
The other day I caught a fascinating science story on NPR. Apparently some plants show altruistic behavior to their siblings (as opposed to ‘strangers’ of the same species). Wow. How do the plants identify and communicate with one another? What other examples may exist of this behavior? I am definitely a fan of science (it was my favorite subject growing up and I have Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering), and one thing that amazes me so much is that the deeper we investigate, the more questions form and more information is uncovered. For example, the discovery of atoms was pretty cool…the building blocks of matter, right? Oh wait, there are sub-atomic particles. Now we are just discovering the role our gut micro-biome may have in our immune system, which could unlock a whole new world of understanding about disease. Check out this related article in the New York Times. ( www.nytimes.com/2010/07/13/science/13micro.html?_r=4&pagewanted=all& )
"Scientists are regularly blown away by the complexity, power, and sheer number of microbes that live in our bodies."
– Carl Zimmer for the New York Times
The point is that nature is incredibly complicated, and while I am all for advancements in science, it is arrogant and misguided to think we “have it all figured out” and can start breaking the rules of nature with GMOs. Time and time and time again we see fallout from our interference with nature in the way of unintended consequences.
Here are but a few examples:
Arsenic showing up in rice (because, oh yeah, the FDA used to allow arsenic in pesticides and currently allows arsenic in chicken feed that turns into crop fertilizer at the other end of the chicken).
Herbicide resistant super-weeds evolving due to the high application rates of RoundUp weed killer (made by Monsanto) on GMO (and “Roundup Ready”) Monsanto GMO seeds.
Bee populations (nature’s pollinators) rapidly diminishing and therefore negatively impacting plant production due to pesticides.
Does this mean technology is inherently bad? Of course not. But we need to slow down and allow adequate time for long term GMO testing, and to not do anything that results in an irreversible widespread change to our food supply (kind of important, don’t you think?).
I see science as the pursuit of truth and discovery, and this is why I love it. The facts are what they are. But it’s also worth noting that industry funded science often gets manipulated, mainly through the funding of specific studies (that stand to benefit the industry or company footing the bill) while not funding others (that would harm the business interests), modifying the research parameters, and so on.
Precautionary Principle vs. Massive Experiment
There is a lot more to this article. To read more...please go to...
www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/04/02/gmos-monsanto-protection-act/
From the nonGMOproject.org website:
GMOs, or “genetically modified organisms,” are plants or animals created through the gene splicing techniques of biotechnology (also called genetic engineering, or GE). This experimental technology merges DNA from different species, creating unstable combinations of plant, animal, bacterial and viral genes that cannot occur in nature or in traditional crossbreeding.
What this means: Pesticides are bred right into the seed of some GMO crops (as opposed to spraying the plants to ward off pests). In other cases the plants are modified to survive being sprayed with the chemical weed killer Roundup (which means more Roundup sales for Monsanto).
Genetic modification is different than selective breeding. This is explained in further detail on page 9-10 of this GMO Myths and Truths document. www.nongmoproject.org/learn-more/gmo-myths-and-truths/
The eight most common GMOs in the US:
(From the institute for Responsible Technology)
-Corn
-Soybeans
-Canola
-Cottonseed
-Sugar Beets
(If a non-organic product made in North America lists "sugar" as an ingredient and NOT pure cane sugar, then it is almost certainly a combination of sugar from both sugar cane and GM sugar beets)
-Most Hawaiian Papaya
-Small amount of Zucchini and Yellow squash
-Dairy products may be from cows injected with GM bovine growth hormone.
(Look for the labels stating NO rBGH, rBST or artificial hormones or check brand listings at NonGMOShoppingGuide.com)
NOTE: Contrary to popular belief, "There is not currently, nor has there ever been, any genetically engineered wheat on the market." Check out NonGMOProject.org for more information. 100daysofrealfood.com
Nature Is Amazing, and Complicated
The other day I caught a fascinating science story on NPR. Apparently some plants show altruistic behavior to their siblings (as opposed to ‘strangers’ of the same species). Wow. How do the plants identify and communicate with one another? What other examples may exist of this behavior? I am definitely a fan of science (it was my favorite subject growing up and I have Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering), and one thing that amazes me so much is that the deeper we investigate, the more questions form and more information is uncovered. For example, the discovery of atoms was pretty cool…the building blocks of matter, right? Oh wait, there are sub-atomic particles. Now we are just discovering the role our gut micro-biome may have in our immune system, which could unlock a whole new world of understanding about disease. Check out this related article in the New York Times. ( www.nytimes.com/2010/07/13/science/13micro.html?_r=4&pagewanted=all& )
"Scientists are regularly blown away by the complexity, power, and sheer number of microbes that live in our bodies."
– Carl Zimmer for the New York Times
The point is that nature is incredibly complicated, and while I am all for advancements in science, it is arrogant and misguided to think we “have it all figured out” and can start breaking the rules of nature with GMOs. Time and time and time again we see fallout from our interference with nature in the way of unintended consequences.
Here are but a few examples:
Arsenic showing up in rice (because, oh yeah, the FDA used to allow arsenic in pesticides and currently allows arsenic in chicken feed that turns into crop fertilizer at the other end of the chicken).
Herbicide resistant super-weeds evolving due to the high application rates of RoundUp weed killer (made by Monsanto) on GMO (and “Roundup Ready”) Monsanto GMO seeds.
Bee populations (nature’s pollinators) rapidly diminishing and therefore negatively impacting plant production due to pesticides.
Does this mean technology is inherently bad? Of course not. But we need to slow down and allow adequate time for long term GMO testing, and to not do anything that results in an irreversible widespread change to our food supply (kind of important, don’t you think?).
I see science as the pursuit of truth and discovery, and this is why I love it. The facts are what they are. But it’s also worth noting that industry funded science often gets manipulated, mainly through the funding of specific studies (that stand to benefit the industry or company footing the bill) while not funding others (that would harm the business interests), modifying the research parameters, and so on.
Precautionary Principle vs. Massive Experiment
There is a lot more to this article. To read more...please go to...
www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/04/02/gmos-monsanto-protection-act/
