If we take GM to mean anything other than selective breeding, using whatever variation in gene sequence that happens to occur spontaneously, vilifying GM is silly. It is only a description of the techniques used. There is nothing inherently wrong with it. It is what is done that matters, not how.
I am aware of 'GM' being used to quickly and cleanly assess the effects of differences in particular gene sequences. When the desirable changes were determined, selective breeding techniques were used to obtain the same sequences so it didn't have to be labelled as 'GMO'. Extra time and expense, and inevitably additional untargeted changes, all so the stigma of 'GMO' could be avoided.
Given the problems the world is facing, I don't think we can afford to dismiss such useful tools.
|