Thoughts about new gene edited wheat trials

[agrijourno]

The British government has recently granted permission for a series of field trials of gene edited wheat which is designed to slash the risk of cancer. These will be the first ever trials on gene edited wheat in Europe. What are your thoughts on this? Do you see this as a positive step or are you concerned that this move away from the EU's position on gene editing might be problematic?

 

[neilo]

Personally, I have no issue with the technology of Gene Editing as it is only doing what can be achieved by normal selective breeding, albeit faster, and doesn’t involve the addition of genetics from alien species. Indeed that is the definition used by many countries around the world that licence such work, but not Genetic Modification.

Whether the press will make that distinction in the pursuit of a headlong grabbing horror story is very doubtful.

 

[Blaithin]

Well if it can cure cancer it’s obviously not nearly as bad as the carcinogenic RR varieties of GMOs.

Lower cancer risk is about all the public needs to hear to get their heads to explode trying to figure out if GMOs are good or evil.