Genetically Modified Organisms
What is your opinion on GMOs.For them against them and why please.
This is going to be in GD so quickly it’s not even funny:)
I don’t like them. I figure it like this: in all the years of plants and animals growing, they haven’t evolved to produce more of anything. So messing with the most crucial of details probably is not a good thing.
Must… control… fist… of death…
<deep breath>
There’s going to be enough argument on either side of this debate, so I’ll be good and not unleash my thoughts for you. Suffice to say that I believe GMO’s are useful, and have some possible problems associated with them, but the likely benefits far outweigh the possible risks.
And, yes, this should be in GD. I mean, it says “opinion” in the title. 
LL
LazarusLong42’s fist of death has been held in check for far too long. Let’s shoot this puppy over to GD and see what unfolds.
Humans have been modifying organisms for quite some time now. Corn, and milk cows spring to mind as examples.
I’m assuming that the OP is referring specifically to examples where we directly modify the genes in an organism.
If one thinks about engineering a tomato that will remain ripe for weeks, or a plant that genrates it’s own pest repellant, or a bacteria that will clean up oil spills, I think it’s pretty clear that the benefits far outway the risks.
The risks are of course exactly the same as when we modify an organism in the traditional way and introduce it into the environment. The difference is that when we modify something through genetic engineering, we are a LOT more careful.
Scylla
How are we "a lot more careful?
Since we genetically engineer plants to be the way we want is it OK to engineer humans?
Is there a risk in germ engineering?
iampunha wrote:
I take it you haven’t seen the huge and well-documented progress made in the milk production capability of dairy cows over the last several centuries, have you? Drawings of cows from a thousand years ago consistently show small udders, and descriptions of the amount of milk you could get made it pretty clear that milk was a pricey luxury item. A modern dairy cow’s udder is so large that cows will frequently step on their own udders by accident, and their milk production is so voluminous that their udders will burst if they are not milked artificially.
This is a debate HUH.
My son originally asked the question and I said I’d ask it at Straightdope. Those people got something to say about everything.
He is writing a paper and wanted some intelligent input.
Oh Well.
OK, I’d have to say that I’m strongly in favor of them. I take insulin and estrogen…both of which are made by GMOs. I am healthier and will live longer because of these things. Is that specific enough, or does your son need more detail? If he does, I suggest that he look up insulin or diabetes, there should be lots of stuff.
Thanks Lynn
I had no idea.
I’ll second Lynn. We can produce a lot of food and medicines via GMOs, and production is less often affected by pests, diseases, and weather. Genetic engineering may be scary, but it is used because it gives us measureable advantages over traditional methods of production in both quantity and quality of yield.
There are some risks, and we should be wary of both the possible health risks and environmental risks of large-scale production using GMOs. But banning them or overreacting will not help. We should test these products as they come out to make sure they’re safe, as with any other product.
Also, iampunha, compare modern maize to its closest wild relative, teosinte, and tell me these plants haven’t been selected (artifical selection over the past 5000 yrs or so of New World agriculture) for greater production.