Genetic modification - overwhelmingly positive way for rapid breeding

Perjantai 2.3.2018 klo 15.40 - Mikko Nikinmaa

Analysis of climate sceptics work has indicated that the studies claiming to show that climate change is not occurring have serious fallacies - as a meta-analysis on them shows: Rasmus E. Benestad, Dana Nuccitelli, Stephan Lewandowsky, Katharine Hayhoe, Hans Olav Hygen, Rob van Dorland & John Cook Theor Appl Climatol (2016) 126:699–703 "Learning from mistakes in climate research".

Now there is a similar analysis of work carried out about the problems caused by genetically modified organisms (GMO; plants) with virtually the same conclusion. The work indicating strong negative effects of GMOs on human health stem from a small number of groups, and include various errors in experimental design. The analysis is reported by Miguel A. Sanchez and Wayne A. Parrott  in Plant Biotechnology Journal (2017) 15, pp. 1227–1234: "Characterization of scientific studies usually cited as evidence of adverse effects of GM food/feed".

It is not surprising that genetic modification as such does not cause any negative effects. One can consider it as a rapid form of breeding - what has earlier required up to thousands of generations can now be achieved in one. However, although the methodology as such is highly beneficial, the hard-line GMO supporters forget several things that need to be considered, whenever large-scale genetic modification is planned. One must make certain that one does not inadverently influence the behaviour of another property of an organism, that one does not influence outside ecosystem etc. These things could (and should) be studied without strong preconcieved attitudes. With the help of good quality work on the questions related to the use of GMOs, the overwhelmingly positive effect of the rapid breeding can be without reservations used to help humankind.

Kommentoi kirjoitusta. Avainsanat: GMO, plant breeding, food production