4 ms·

I am not a biologist, but I think of the ecological risk of GMO as something akin to AI risk: Not a serious risk at the current level of technology or in the ne

• a_bonobo 11y ago
  > but serious enough that it would be good for a few people to be thinking about it right now. Of course, GM-technology is a huge area of tools, tools which are being used in all kinds of situations and outcomes: modifying bacteria to create insulin or washing powder ingredients (both of these have been done on an industrial scale for decades now); modifying plants to have a better defense against various pests (being done with Bt cotton and soy IIRC), or just to glow in the dark (there's a kickstarter), etc. These are all more or less "good" outcomes of GM, but you could also use GM for "bad" - you could make maize express a human neurotoxin and spread that plant in order to attack a country (a not very directed attack). The only thing that's stopping you is that it's still very hard, expensive and time-consuming to do so.