Hi, Has there been any studies on the effect of genetic modification (GM) in plants for human consumption on the

Question: Hi, Has there been any studies on the effect of genetic modification (GM) in plants for human consumption on the ecosystems around the areas involved? I ask because if a plant is made to be disease or "pest" resistant then is it not going to have as larger effect as the use of things like pesticides (especially petrochemical pesticides) have on the ecosystems (like the DDT problems with bioaccumulation through the food chain) Thanks AWood
- Keywords:
  bioaccumulation,
  chain,
  consumption,
  DDT,
  eco,
  ecosystems,
  effect,
  GM,
  larger,
  modification,
  pest,
  pesticides,
  petrochemical
Asked by awood to Ed, Sam, Steve on 23 Jun 2011.
- Steven Daly answered on 23 Jun 2011:
  
  I am sure that this has been studied, although I do not know of any particular study, it isn’t something I am very familiar with. I am not really even that familiar with what has been added into the plants! I do think that caution should be used when dealing with things like this though, because there probably has not been a long term study into the effects of them, say 20 years down the line.
- Ed Morrison answered on 23 Jun 2011:
  
  Yes, ecologists are studying this sort of thing right now. I think that GM technology has enormous potential to improve agriculture. As you say, we may need to use fewer pesticides which damage ecosystems, and we can discourage crop loss due to parasites and disease. There are also ongoing attempts to introduce genes for vitamins in plants like rice which should improve people’s health.
  
  I don’t know why many people are uneasy about GM, like all technologies you have to be careful but I don’t see any fundamental objections.
- Sam Tazzyman answered on 23 Jun 2011:
  
  I agree with Ed that I don’t see the fundamental objections to GM crops. People have been genetically engineering their crops and livestock for thousands of years, it’s just they’ve been doing it by selective breeding rather than by direct genetic intervention. I am not sure there is a fundamental difference that means people should be so scared of GM.

Comments

awood commented on 23 Jun 2011:

Do you know whether the actual modification of the plants (crops) to be pest resistant actually works, and therefore has an effect on the ecosystem which surrounds it and of which it is included? AWood

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