Month: August 2009

Published!

My first publication can now be viewed at the Theoretical and Applied Genetics (aka TAG) website. I’m the second of three authors of Wide variability in kernel composition, seed characteristics, and zein profiles among diverse maize inbreds, landraces, and teosinte. Sherry Flint-Garcia, the 1st author on this paper, is a young scientist already well known in maize genetics and a pleasure to work with.

My role was to collect and analyze data on the seed storage proteins (aka zeins) in maize inbreds, landraces, and teosintes. The similarity within the groups and differences across the groups is just amazing. Studies such as this one show just how important it is to maintain populations of crop relatives, if not for any other reason than as a source of genes for breeding.

Science

Genes that keep out transgenes?

In the midst of literature review for a long, complicated post on gene flow between maize and teosinte (yes, this is how I spend my Saturday nights / Sunday mornings, thanks), I came across the following article in Science Daily from 12 October 2000: Gene Barrier In Corn May Boost Trade, Environment.

Working with teosinte, a wild cousin of maize, a University of Wisconsin-Madison scientist has found a molecular barrier that, bred into modern hybrid corn, is capable of completely locking out foreign genes, including those from genetically modified corn.

Science

Sweet, sweet corn

I met Kevin Montgomery of Montgomery Consulting at NCCC167 at Allerton Park, Illinois back in March. He specializes in native trait development, such as herbicide tolerance, enhanced nutritional quality, high yield, improved germination, and good stand establishment. One of the most interesting of these native traits is what Kevin calls FACE (fall armyworm corn earworm)….

Read More “Sweet, sweet corn” »

Food

Laws on selling food

Many people who garden or make home preserves might be interested in selling their produce and products at the local farmers market or other places, but might not know what laws regulate sale of such items. Now, people can easily find out, thanks to the Leopold Center at Iowa State University. Their FAQs on Food Regulations for Small Market Food Producers provides information and resources.

Science

Eat food, not too much, mostly plants

It just occured to me that I’ve been pushing what could be seen as a mando-vegan agenda here, on twitter, and in real life. I just wanted to take a moment to clarify. No references, although I’d be happy to provide if anyone asks…

Commentary

What’s in a label?

Marion Nestle’s post Labeling GM foods: if the U.K. can do it, we can too! has been passed around the internet many times in the past few days by opponents of biotechnology. I appreciate their desire to know more about what they are eating, and I appreciate that Dr. Nestle admitted that “GM labeling as an issue of consumer choice, not of science”. However, I think these efforts are misguided. To help demonstrate why seeking mandatory labeling of ingredients derived from GM crops is inappropriate, please consider the following example:

Commentary

Vision

I had the good fortune today to participate in a sweet corn tasting for Kevin Montgomery of Montgomery Consulting. Within a few days, I’ll post more about what I learned at the tasting, but I just had to share the very best part immediately.

I’ve eaten a lot of tasty sweet corn, but rarely knew the name. Since moving to Iowa, I’ve had “Ambrosia” and “Peaches and Cream” within an hour of picking. They were good, but not spectacular. Today, I had a variety called “Vision” that was unbelievably delicious. It is sweet, but not too sweet. The corn flavor and aroma are just strong enough without being overbearing. The kernels have the perfect amount of bite, not too tough, not too soft. It’s delicious raw. It’s delicious boiled for a few minutes and served with butter and salt.

Food

Looking for the truth

Timothy LaSalle, CEO of the Rodale Institute, has an article in the Huffington Post: Organic Agriculture Beats Biotech at its Own Game. Despite obviously being a very smart man, he doesn’t seem to be thinking very much as he goes through the same old weak talking points that attempt to boil a complex issue down to black and white. Let’s see what he has to say:

Real question #1: Why bother?

To this point, biotech crops have not produced the yield advantages or biological resilience to multiple stressors.

Commentary

GE to cause food prices to go up?

Only a day after my last post about a bizarre argument against GE wheat that argued that Australian non-GE wheat producers would need to be protected from prices being lowered by a hypothetical frost-free wheat, the opposite is reported in the UK. The Daily Express reports that GM crops could send food prices rocketing. Wha?

Commentary