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You seem to think that GMOs mean scientists are injecting mutant genes into corn and wheat in order to increase yield. This is wrong. GMO means the crop itself
by julianlam 6y ago
You seem to think that GMOs mean scientists are injecting mutant genes into corn and wheat in order to increase yield. This is wrong.
GMO means the crop itself has been selectively bred over time to increase desirable qualities, yield being one of them. Taste, perhaps another.
Are you afraid of GMO foods? Perhaps you should avoid orange carrots, and sweet corn, then.
- kbenson 6y ago> GMO means the crop itself has been selectively bred over time to increase desirable qualities That's one thing GMO means. It can also mean genetically modified species that are resistant to a specific herbicide. For example, Round-up ready crops. That doesn't necessarily mean breeds that have been genetically altered are bad or worse than ones bred over time, but it's incorrect to say that GMO means breeding.
- inter_netuser 6y agoA genetically modified organism (GMO) is any organism whose genetic material has been altered using *genetic engineering* techniques. Selective breeding is something else. It is very difficult to somehow selectively breed a marine mollusk gene into a carrot.
- AngryData 6y agoYou are right, however at the same time, the vast majority of GMO work is done with the entire purpose of increasing yield, even if top soil is already being over-utilized and dieing. We could use it to make food tastier and more nutritious, but is a20% tastier apple going to sell 20% for more? 20% higher yield will. And having usable top soil in 50 years doesn't get the same financial incentive as using up in 20, selling off used up land to developers, then buying out the properly tended soil from struggling farmers who didn't fuck their land.