I knew a scientist 10 years ago who worked for a corporation on the the genetic mapping of a string bean-- this was for them to be altered in some way.
I believe most of our fruit and vegetables today are modified, they don't have to tell us, they just do it.
And I can taste the difference, can't you?
2006-09-17 03:10:24 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
Hi. ALL produce has been genetically modified by farmers for centuries. They select the best for seed.
2006-09-17 03:19:05 · answer #1 · answered by Cirric 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The modification of various crops is not as you believe. It is done to improve productivity or create strains of crops that are resistent to virus, fungus or nematodes. The taste is seldom a factor but the demand for fresh produce is the major cause of the taste difference. To insure that the products arrive in presentable and edible condition, they are usually harvested prematurely and lack the finishing days to achieve full flavor. Such genetic alteration or hybridizing began a long time ago with Luther Burbank. Such genetic engineering has brought about most of the fruits and vegetables as well as many types of fowl and mammals that are available today. Even the coconut tree is being change to prevent 'yellow disease', a disease that causes the tree to die. We have the option to use various chemicals and insecticides to yield poor or tainted crops or use our brains and selectively breed plants and animals that provide us with both better and more appealing foods. FAO (the Food and Agricultural Organization) produced a type of rice for the Philippines that could yield three crops a year but it was not tasty enough, so scientists bred a new variety that both was satisfactory and helps to boost Phillipine economy. As a scientist and a physician, I see great merit in the research being done. You can blame the tastelessness on handling, not on the science.
2006-09-17 10:24:49 · answer #2 · answered by Frank 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is true that there is much gmo going on today. While they are doing it for a purpose (which incidentally adds to the bottom line in the long run), there is little thought to what they are doing in the long run. Nobody is doing any long term affects, such as 30-40 years. They are shrinking the number of strains of a plant used for crops which sets us up for a potetial blyte. If naturally, there are 100 strains of a crop out there and a blyte comes along, then most will survive. But if we are down to 10 or less strains, then there could be big impact.
Another thing to consider is that they are producing plants that are resistant to roundup. Great, right? They can spray roundup on their crops, kill the weeds (so the weeds don't choke the plants) and they get a bigger yield. Well what about the roundup that is absorbed into the plants we eat. Last time I checked, roundup wasn't in any of the food pyramids as a vital nutrient!
2006-09-17 11:30:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tomatoes are the only produce that I know of that have been genetically modified and then only a very small handfull of them. I'm usually up on this sort of thing. I would have to say that you are exaggerating. As far as taste goes, try some organic vegies, there's more flavor due to the improved soil nutrients.
2006-09-17 10:20:30 · answer #4 · answered by Mr. Peachy® 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope, I just keep munching them green beans.
2006-09-17 10:12:56 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Listen to Dr.Frank ... he knows of what he speaks..... Don't be afraid of technology... it may be what keeps you from starving to death as the world becomes more populated.
2006-09-17 10:27:37 · answer #6 · answered by lowrider 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They dont let them know. It is business secret and secrets remain secret.
2006-09-17 10:21:16 · answer #7 · answered by riaz 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sometimes i do and sometime i don't i suppose it depends on what your eating and who is eating it.
2006-09-17 10:13:40 · answer #8 · answered by qwerty 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋