Topic started by parthiban (@ debroglie.ceg.uiuc.edu) on Sun Jan 20 21:02:30 .
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

I found the following site to be very informative. What I liked best about it was that it's geared towards biotech-novices.
http://www.psrast.org

Responses:

• From: PRADEEP (@ ns1.genetic-id.com) on: Mon Jan 21 21:05:08
  
  I strongly beleive that genetically modified food is bad for health. there are many reasons. PNAS Nov 2001 issue, I found a research work showing that experimental mice given DNA in food was recovered in many of its organs like liver pancreas , heart etc. To create GMO food, DNA sequences from virus and bacteria are used. If the above work is true , then when we eat these foods these dangerous DNA could get into our organs too. 50 years before when pesticides were discovered the whole world thought that we can produce tons of food. Infact yes, but what was the side effect. we cannot get rid of the toxic pestides we are dumping on earth. DDT for example is known to cuase all cancers especially breast cancer.
  
  the same would be with GMO foods after a few years we would find that GMO foods cause major side effects for health and then it will be too late for us to recover.
  
  I eat only organic fruits, vegetables, grains (rice , wheat etc) and also all other food commodities. These foods are NON_GMO's and not sprayed with pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. Apart form destryoing our health its a threat to the whole planet.
  
  I STRONGLY SUGGEST EVERYONE TO SUPPORT ALL THAT HELPS NATURE. IF WE DESTROY NATURE , WE ARE DESTROYING OURSELVES.
  
  ALL THESE CENTURIES MANKIND WAS A BENIGN CANCER TO THIS PLANET , NOW WE HAVE BECOME MALIGNANT CANCER FOR EARTH, KILLING EVERYHTING INCLUDING ITSELF.
  
  IT IS HIGH TIME WE TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE.
  THANKS PARTHIBAN TO BRING THIS ISSUE UP TO BRING AN AWARENESS AMNONG IGNORANT PUBLIC.
  
  
• From: Madhan (@ 202.41.99.4) on: Mon Jan 21 22:28:01
  
  There are several aspects to Genetically engineered food - it is vrey absurd to dismiss GE food as something bad outright - genetic sequences from genetically engineered food entering the consumer (that is you and me) is a very complex process and has still not been clearly understood - usually for DNA to enter our system, it needs/requires a VECTOR - a kind of transporter - this is what usually happens in case of viruses like the HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus that causes AIDS)- unless and until there is a viable vector as a carrier for the genetic sequence, the chances of foreign DNA to get integrated into host DNA (like that of ours) are remote
  
  In case of GE food, unless there is the rare case of horizontal gene transfer from the plants to us, which is almost impossible, since all the DNA genetic material we consume gets degraded / digested, since for the DNA to get into our system, it needs a live vector or, as in some cases a dead vector (ex. adenoviral vectors which are used to carry CYstic Fibrosis CF rectifying genetic sequences as a therapy for CF)
  
  More later
  
  Madhan
  Department of Microbiology
  Goa University, Goa - 403 206
  India
  
  
• From: parthiban (@ debroglie.ceg.uiuc.edu) on: Tue Jan 22 14:07:18
  
  Pradeep,
  
  We think alike. I too try to take only organic foodstuff.
  
  Madhan,
  
  > it is very absurd to dismiss GE food as
  > something bad outright
  i accept. you need to test their effects and make *absolutely* sure they are Ok.
  
  > genetic sequences from genetically engineered
  > food entering the consumer (that is you and me)
  > is a very complex process and has still not
  > been clearly understood ---
  this is precisely why i/we are saying no to GM foods. the-state-of-the-art research in biotech doesn't allow us to predict with absolute certainty, the effects of GM food. let's wait till
  we have conclusive results.
  
  now the question arises as to how long this will take, and more importantly, if we can ever make accurate predictions. typically, experiments with GM food are performed on mice, but their genetic make-up is different from that of humans. so, mice may behave differently than humans - we can't extrapolate the results of these studies to predict their effects on humans. this seems to be a fundamental bottleneck in proving the safety (if any!) of GM foods.
  
  The whole purpose of GM foods is supposedly to reduce/eliminate world hunger. But some studies, not reported in the mainstream media for obvious reasons have shown reduced yields of GM crops (http://www.psrast.org). so, why should anyone want to introduce GM foods? could it be for the same reasons as the introduction of 'terminator' seeds?
  
  you could say - try GM crops for a few years, and if it doesn't work out fine, get back to the traditional way of farming. Aha, it's not so simple as that! it took a few tens of years for us to see the ill-effects of the "green revolution", and now the detoxification /desalination of the soil is going to take several years. With GM foods, the effects could be still worse. The right types of crops have come to flourish through the process of natural evolution. we better don't fiddle with nature; As someone rightly said 'Man shouldn't attempt to play God'
  
  what's the current situation?
  unfortunately, the market (atleast in the US and Argentina) is flooded with GM products, often without adequate labels. India is too big a market to be missed out, and without timely action, it won't be long before the Indian market is flooded with GM foods.
  
  
• From: pradheep (@ ns1.genetic-id.com) on: Tue Jan 22 17:44:38
  
  Dear Parthiban
  Thanks for your insight and I am glad Indians like you are using our senses instead of blindly what the west says.
  
  To madhan
  please refer PNAS 94(3) 961-6 1997 Feb 4. issue Food ingested foreign DNA is not compltely digested in GI tract of mice.
  
  You are one among the scientist who do not have a holistic veiw. Major draw back of Scientist is that they see everythign isolated they dont have a holistic view.
  
  Problem of Gm food is that it not only affect human beings but environment as a whole.
  
  You may not be aware of the power of commericialisation. The companies that do produce GM foods, have nothing to feed the world. they want big money to fill their pockets.
  
  Its now well proved that orgnaic food produces food that is tastier, more bulk and good for the soil. this was published in NATURE last year.
  
  hese multi billion GMO food producing companies have been fooling all of us for a long time. Its high time to stop them harming everyone.
  
  I am not interested only in mankind. I feel every living organism has the same right in this world to live like us. We cannot keep sacrificng them for our benfits. Without mankind all the organisms can survive in this planet, but mankind cannot survive without other organisms. So we are not important for this planet. We are only greedy and selfish.
  
  Cause minimum damge to this planet and yourself and others survive.
  
  
• From: Riya (@ 202.187.144.2) on: Wed Jan 30 02:35:43
  
  Hi!
  Your topic really interesting.Anyway good luck!
  
  
• From: Riya (@ 202.187.144.2) on: Wed Jan 30 02:35:48
  
  Hi!
  Your topic really interesting.Anyway good luck!
  
  
• From: Riya (@ bkj-cache81.jaring.my) on: Wed Jan 30 02:35:58
  
  Hi! Parthiban
  Your topic really interesting.Anyway good luck!
  
  
• From: Riya (@ 202.187.144.2) on: Wed Jan 30 02:36:06
  
  Hi! Parthiban
  Your topic really interesting.Anyway good luck!
  
  
• From: Riya (@ 202.187.144.2) on: Wed Jan 30 02:36:11
  
  Hi! Parthiban
  Your topic really interesting.Anyway good luck!
  
  
• From: Riya (@ 202.187.144.2) on: Wed Jan 30 02:36:17
  
  Hi! Parthiban
  Your topic really interesting.Anyway good luck!
  
  
• From: Riya (@ bkj-cache81.jaring.my) on: Wed Jan 30 02:36:24
  
  Hi! Parthiban
  Your topic really interesting.Anyway good luck!
  
  
• From: Riya (@ 202.187.144.2) on: Wed Jan 30 02:37:06
  
  Hi! Parthiban
  Your topic really interesting.Anyway good luck!
  
  
• From: parthiban (@ debroglie.ceg.uiuc.edu) on: Thu Jan 31 12:40:34
  
  
  World in a Grain of Rice - Vandana Shiva
  check out
  http://www.mindfully.org/GE/Rice-Vandana-Shiva.htm
  
  
• From: parthiban (@ debroglie.ceg.uiuc.edu) on: Thu Jan 31 13:03:08
  
  The Silenced Targets
  http://cgi.isisnet.force9.co.uk/cgi-bin/SilencedTargets.php
  
  
  
• From: parthiban (@ debroglie.ceg.uiuc.edu) on: Mon Feb 4 16:57:34
  
  Report calls for stricter checks on GM foods
  http://www.guardian.co.uk/gmdebate/Story/0,2763,644776,00.html
  
  

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