Why is cross-polination not considered as controversial as direct genetic engineering?

Question

To be fair, they're both pretty much the same process just using different methods. Is it purely based on the suggested dark aura around the field of genetics that comes from uninformed public opinion?

Bugger, sorry I meant to put this in Botany, not Biology.

Kes, those bad aspects you mentioned can also be a result of cross polination.

Answer 1

the answer is simple: ignorance

Answer 2

But, Kes is right. Usually genetic engineering means putting some genes into a plant that come from a different species and would never get implanted naturally.

And, this can be a propr question for biology as well as botany since the implanted genes may come from animals instead of plants. Plus, the same thing is being done with animals.

Answer 3

Cross-pollination usually refers to using insects (bees?) or a brush to pollinate one plant with the pollen from another plant which occurs all the time in nature. Genetic engineering is unnatural and includes splicing the genes of one plant into a different variety. The results may be good or bad and may be controversial with those fearing bad results. For example, engineering a plant to resist all of its natural enemies may reduce the need for pesticides (good) but allow the plants to grow out of control (bad). The benefits and risks must be carefully weighed by responsible scientists.