The difference with our current GMO foods is that many of them are being made by genetic engineering techniques with genes being spliced in that come from not just outside of the recipient's genetic family, but from outside of the recipient's genetic order, class, phylum and even kingdom. We are even splicing genes from viruses and bacteria into our foods. You again.
My goodness, where to start?
The significance of inserting a single gene from one organism into another is... nothing. Lateral gene transfers occur frequently in nature. In fact, every time you get a viral infection, those viruses insert their entire genome into your cells. Usually, they force your cells to become virus factories. But not always. Sometimes, they integrate into your chromosomes and become a permanent part of your genome. Sometimes, they integrate into the chromosomes in germ cells, where they can become a permanent part of the human genome. Our genome, in fact, contains anywhere from 5-8% of viral DNA. One protein that is essential for the formation of the placenta is coded by a virus that became part of the mammalian genome millions of years ago.
Of course, every time you consume food, you consume significant quantities of DNA from other organisms--including organisms of completely different kingdoms. (Quick biology lesson: the five kingdoms are bacteria, archaea, fungus, plant, and animal.) Have you had adverse effects from that? I doubt it, unless the DNA was inside of a pathogen.
I'm not surprised you don't know this, actually. You didn't even know that CO2 is the basic building block of *all* biological molecules (no exceptions).
If someone were trying to engineer botulinum toxin into lettuce or something like that, I'd be worried. But engineering plants to be resistant to rust or insects or whatever--it's no big deal. We've been engineering other organisms for millennia. Our tools have gotten much better, that's all.
Have you ever considered maybe taking some basic science classes before you try to match wits against an experienced scientist again?
Seriously Mom? A mere 5% of our gene code coming in from viral sources over
10 million generations and you think that that is comparable to what is being done in genetic engineering labs today? They are pushing pieces of genetic material in at a million times the natural rates and of course there won't be any unexpected consequences because we have the word of you, a real scientist on that. Wow. You are a prideful one, aren't you Mom?
And I see you want to go back to our CO2 conversation which you abandoned last time when I disproved your assertion that
all biomass comes originally from the process of photosynthesis. Well, here
again is the link to an article by
Professor G. Jeffrey Taylor, Ph.D at the Hawai‘i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology <
link > that states:
"Recent research on deep rocks on Earth has shown that bacteria can live kilometers beneath the surface. Some bacteria live on nothing but rock and water, extracting energy from chemical reactions rather than from sunlight."
It appears that this "real" scientist disagrees with you Mom.
"Have you ever considered maybe taking some basic science classes before you try to match wits against an experienced scientist again?"
Maybe I'm not the one that needs to be taking some basic science courses Mom, because strangely enough, unlike you, I knew of the existence of these subterranean bacteria 20 years ago. Now I know you are a hard working govt scientist with no requirement or expectation to perform any real work and as such are a very busy woman, but you really should try to find some time to keep at least somewhat current with matters which you feel qualified to pontificate about.
Have a nice day Mom, and please keep in touch - I really do enjoy watching you make a fool of yourself time after time after time.