BingDing
Member
Or, another good reason not to eat wheat.
For reference, the GM in Genetically Modified Organism is explicitly defined as gene splicing, where a single gene is introduced into another genome and the people doing it at least nominally understand what they are doing.
This article The Story of Wheat is a pretty good read in its way. About two thirds down is
Gives a whole new meaning to the term "Frankenfood", doesn't it?
For reference, the GM in Genetically Modified Organism is explicitly defined as gene splicing, where a single gene is introduced into another genome and the people doing it at least nominally understand what they are doing.
This article The Story of Wheat is a pretty good read in its way. About two thirds down is
In 1956, a sample of a barley variety called Maythorpe was irradiated at Britain's Atomic Energy Research Establishment . The result was a strain with stiffer, shorter straw but the same early harvest and malting qualities, which would eventually reach the market as “Golden Promise”.
Today scientists use thermal neutrons, X-rays, or ethyl methane sulphonate, a harsh carcinogenic chemical—anything that will damage DNA—to generate mutant cereals. Virtually every variety of wheat and barley you see growing in the field was produced by this kind of “mutation breeding”. No safety tests are done; nobody protests. The irony is that genetic modification (GM) was invented in 1983 as a gentler, safer, more rational and more predictable alternative to mutation breeding—an organic technology, in fact. Instead of random mutations, scientists could now add the traits they wanted.
Gives a whole new meaning to the term "Frankenfood", doesn't it?