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Hi my name's Paul, I'm studying A levels in a school in Kent and am aspiring to go to The University of Nottingham to study Plant Bioscience. Enjoy my blogs, they will mainly be about Biology. Contact me at rubiscoactivase@gmail.com

Monday 2 April 2012

Why am I Interested in this?


I hope to be studying Plant science at the university of Nottingham, and the idea of food security greatly interests me. With a growing global population, food security has become a very important issue, greater yields of crops are going to be needed in order to feed this population. Also with an ever changing climate the need for more “hardy” crops has become a real issue. With droughts and other drastic climate extremes, resistant crops are needed.

The subject of Genetic modification is also one that is very relevant and heated. Many people are passionate on this topic and show very strong views.
Therefore I believe it to important topic to blog about.   

21 comments:

  1. I am following because honestly I don't understand why people are so upset. I'm pro-technology so I am all for things that help people. What are people afraid of?

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    1. well beyond the ethical issues, the legal issues become very problematic. Monsanto produces "Roundup ready" crops that are herbicide resistant, and have a patent for them. If somehow those seeds end up on a farm through cross-pollination or some other means (which can happen, it's how nature works), Monsanto can then sue that farm for patent infrigement.

      They've also researched the idea of a "terminator gene", which prevents seed formation, which would prevent farmers from saving seed at the end of each season. They've since agreed not to commercialize the terminator gene. If that gene were to spread into wild strains, it could be disastrous.

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    2. why did they start researching terminator genes in the first place? seems like there isnt any harm in saving seeds at the end of a season

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    3. I'm at least partially against technology in general, so I can't really provide an answer regarding specific concerns towards genetic modification alone but I guess the most common ones could be:

      1) What happens if knowledge/technology falls in the wrond hands and is used to develop (let's say) weapons of mass destruction?

      2) Genetic modifications could radically influence the process of natural selection and ultimately affect biodiversity in a negative way.

      Nice blog and nice topic by the way.

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    4. terminator genes are there so farmers can't save seed. They'd have to buy their seed every year, so more money for those companies

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  2. I have seen what Monsanto has done and that is definitely a scary thought if they were to try to patent organs.

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  3. so many people are stubborn

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  4. im not so sure about genetic modified foods, im a farmer and im not sure if i believe it will be healthy in the long run.

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  5. "I have seen what Monsanto has done and that is definitely a scary thought if they were to try to patent organs."

    perhaps it could save someones life though, creepy of course

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  6. Thanks to people like you our civilisation can develop. Kudos!

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  7. An interesting subject, look forward to seeing more from you in the coming months.

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  8. cool blog...consider yourself followed (wink)

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  9. Interesting post Just watched unknown last night where the scientist comes up with a crop that can be grown in any climate to see something along those lines would truly be great.

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  10. It's good some people are still caring about others

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  11. have you ever made love to any produce?

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  12. Very good subject, will be following you :)

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  13. Hmm... interesting stuff u got here

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  14. Plant science is a really interesting subject. You can learn a lot and help very many people by optimizing food production and crops.
    Whether genetic engineering is a path that's worth following, I don't know, only future can tell, whether it's safe enough and can provide people with healthy food.

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  15. This is truly interesting, you've gained another follower!

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