Stronger Plants, Stronger Science, and Stronger Communication
Decoding the GM debateBy Emma YoungG Magazine 12 October 2010G weighs up the evidence behind the claims made for and against GM crops. If you’re looking for a topical issue that polarises opinion, you can’t go past genetic modification (GM). At one end of the spectrum, GM food is the answer to world hunger, at…
Transgenic harvestEditorial. Published online 06 October 2010African nations are laying foundations to extend the use of GM technology on the continent. The use of genetically modified (GM) crops for food divides opinion, especially when it comes to Africa. Sharp views on the technology in the developed world, honed by more than a decade of arguments…
Growth of biofuel industry hurt by GMO regulations: studyOctober 1, 2010 Physorg.ComFaster development of the promising field of cellulosic biofuels – the renewable energy produced from grasses and trees – is being significantly hampered by a “deep and thorny regulatory thicket” that makes almost impossible the use of advanced gene modification methods, researchers say.
Soy products are in the news due to an impending class action suit against a soy milk substitute distributer, but the culprit is seaweed. Kelp and its extracts can contain toxic amounts of iodine that can affect the thyroid. Thankfully Greenpeace is not issuing demands for the banning of all seaweeds in food. Hopefully the…
Read More “Suspicious seaweed source of serious serial soya sickness saga” »
Route of chemical delivery and amount delivered to site of action matters in deciding the degree of toxicity of a chemical. We know that direct injection of either caffeine (or herbicides) into embryos can easily damage the embryo, but humans can safely drink caffeine in moderation.
By Stephen Daniells, 16-Sep-2010 The safety of an EPA-rich oil from genetically modified yeast is “comparable to that of GRAS fish oil”, says a new study from DuPont.
The Safety Assessment of Transgenic Plants in which Gene Expression Has Been Modified Bruce M. Chassy ISB News Report Sept 2010 (pdf) Engineered crops have become a significant component of modern agriculture. Prior to release for commercial planting, a thorough pre-market regulatory review focuses on any potential agricultural and environmental impacts of genetically engineered crops, as well as any…
SeedQuest – Central information website for the global seed industry FAO publication: Induced Plant Mutations in the Genomics Era Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)Rome, 2009 Preface The year 2008 marks the 80th anniversary of mutation induction in plants. The application of mutation techniques, i.e. Gamma-rays and other physical and chemical…
Read More “All you wanted to know about induced mutations in crop breeding” »