Transgenic Conifers--Good or Bad?

[Guy Meilleur]

If you are interested in hearing more about transgenic trees,

There is emerging interdisciplinary interest in the biological, societal and political questions inherent to genetically modified conifers. We are hosting a Forum on Landscapes, Genomics and Transgenic Conifer Forests for November 17-19 2004 in Durham North Carolina.

Registration fee is $350, but PM me if you want to go for free?

The forum has four themes:
1) Emerging genomics, gene discovery and commercialization
2) Ecological relevance of genomics
3) Land ownership perspective
4) Regulatory perspective

The goals of the Forum are to 1) conduct a science-based dialogue, 2) synthesize innovative applications for burgeoning conifer genomics information, and 3) identify gaps in the current research framework.

Who should attend:
Policy specialists, research administrators, academicians, governmental agency representatives and leaders in the nonprofit sector in special-interest organizations.

A shared interest in interaction between ecosystems and forest biotechnology products is the common denominator for all forum attendees.

Duke U, Durham NC Nov 17-19

 

[rumination]

Guy,

Am I correct in assuming that transgenic in this case means genetically modified organism? If so, what are the reasons that people have put forth for bioengineering conifers?

Sounds like it would be an interesting discussion. Personally, the patenting of modified organisms (any organism, for that matter) is just WRONG in my mind. And that's not even getting into the potential ecological ramifications of introducing GM trees into forest environments.

Whaddaya youse guys think?

 

[Guy Meilleur]

Originally posted by rumination
Am I correct in assuming that transgenic in this case means genetically modified organism?
Yes.
If so, what are the reasons that people have put forth for bioengineering conifers?
Production, pest resistance, etc.

the patenting of modified organisms (any organism, for that matter) is just WRONG in my mind. And that's not even getting into the potential ecological ramifications of introducing GM trees into forest environments.Whaddaya youse guys think?

I am also extremely skeptical for the reasons you cite. My reg is comped because I belong to a sustainable forestry group. Speculation is that they are trying to broaden their base of participants to include practitioners and skeptics. Pretty of them to do that, imo.

So it won't be all dry academic hoohah. I'll post what I hear. Anyone closer than HI want to stop by Durham NC? I can't promise basketball tix, but there are other good things here.

 

[Chucky]

I think much of alarm about transgenic plants is unfounded. Though there is some risk of transgenic movement into wild relatives of certain crop plants, I think antipathy towards transgenic plants is based more on irrational fear of Frankenstein plants, than on an informed assessment of the potential risks.

Trees are well known as strong outcrossers. They rarely inbreed. So the zygote that results from fertilization of the egg from the sperm now has thousands of new genes that it’s parent did not have. And how many novel genes that resulted from mutations are introduced, as well? This is all purely random and natural, and there’s no control over it.

Contrast this with a transgenic plant. In most cases only one gene has been changed, not thousands. Nature unwittingly does far more experimenting in gene flow than genetic engineering does, and with totally unpredictable results, and without the convenience of field trials.

A pertinent question is to what end is conifer genetic engineering? If it’s for Christmas trees or conferring aesthetics to trees it’s almost certainly not a problem, in my opinion. If the transgene somehow allows the tree to make more offspring, then the gene will probably spread. But transgenic genes in most crop applications rarely supercharge the plant to make more offspring. And even if they do, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll spurn Frankentrees.

Speaking of Frankentrees, anybody got a Franklinia for sale?


Chucky
Popple Topple TREE SERVICE

 

[Guy Meilleur]

Originally posted by Chucky
I think much of alarm about transgenic plants is unfounded.
The alarm may be unfounded, but the concerns have a lot of foundation.

Speaking of Frankentrees, anybody got a Franklinia for sale?

478-994-4147, Interstate Wholesale Nursery. I've already killed 2, I give up. For now.

 

[Chucky]

Thanks for the Franklinia info, Guy. Though I can't imagine with your success rate in NC I'll have any better, especially here in NY.

 

[Reed]

"I think much of alarm about transgenic plants is unfounded."

No they are not. It's already come to litigation in several cases. What's alarming is the impact of settlements from discoveries haven't influenced the research parameters. In fact they can not by matter of law - proprietary grants have closed data needed to both warn and influence further studies. My lymphoma cure is an example, what saved me from a cancer there is no cure for can not be shared with the medical community.

There is a broad difference in DNA grafting between species and manipulating chromosome helix mechanics for attributes not seasoned by regularity. Deadly waters to tread when governments (the people) aren't allowed to oversight, only boardrooms and their bottom line.

 

[Guy Meilleur]

Originally posted by oakwilt
[B governments (the people) aren't allowed to oversight, only boardrooms and their bottom line. [/B]

...and research institutions with THEIR bottom lines? I don't know, I'm going in with a mind open to chucky's reasoning, and wilt's experience too.

Anyone else want to tag along?

 

[caryr]